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Irish politicians to join new Gaza flotilla

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Oct 25, IRNA -- Two Irish MPs and one senator are set to join a new international flotilla aiming to breach Israel’s nearly four-year old siege of Gaza.

Fianna Fail MP Chris Andrews, party colleague Senator Mark Daly and Sinn Fein’s Aengus O’Snodaigh are seeking to become the first Irish parliamentary to break the blockade after signing up to a 25-member passenger list for the next Irish boat.

A campaign group headed by anti-war activist and member of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), Fintan Lane, who took part in the first flotilla, has put a €25,000 down-payment to buy a boat, which is currently docked in the Mediterranean.

The new vessel will be captained by Shane Dillon, who was first mate on the Challenger I, which was also part in May’s flotilla, when masked Israeli commandoes gunned down nine passengers after illegally intercepting the boats in international waters.

Lane, a 43-year old historian, said that twenty Irish volunteers had so far put their names down and had been ready to travel next month, but added that a consensus had emerged among participants that the next flotilla would be delayed until March next year to allow more vessels to participate.

“We could have gone in November with six or seven boats, but if we wait until after Christmas, we will have 14 or 15,' he told Ireland’s Sunday Business Post.

A new Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign was launched last month with a series of fund-raising events. Vessels are due to be supplied and manned by activists from the US, Canada, Spain, Italy, Britain, Sweden, Malaysia and Norway, among others.

Last week, IPSC congratulated and paid tribute to all the activists on the Viva Palestina Gaza Convoy after it successfully travelled overland from London to deliver more than $5 million in much needed humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian population.

The convoy of almost 150 vehicles and 370 people was the largest convoy ever to break the Israeli siege, after it entered Gaza through the Egyptian controlled Rafah crossing where they were met by thousands of jubilant Palestinians.

“These activists are to be commended and congratulated for their bravery and determination to breach this illegal blockade and deliver their humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip,” said IPSC chair Freda Hughes.

“This was despite threats in recent days by the Israeli military that they were preparing to intercept the convoy and various obstacles placed in their way by Egyptian authorities,” Hughes said.

But she also warned that while convoy, which included Irish activists, breached the blockade, “the cruel and illegal siege remains in place.”

“It is long past time for the international community to finally live up to their responsibilities. They must take whatever action is necessary to force Israel to end the blockade and to secure justice and freedom for the Palestinian people,” she said.