Pro-Palestinian flotilla aiming to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza StripA vessel from Sweden that will form part of a Pro-Palestinian flotilla aiming to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip is on its way to its final destination.
The
Marianne of Gothenburg is the first boat of the so-called Freedom Flotilla III to set sail and will aim to deliver medical equipment and solar cell panels for use in Gaza, according to a statement by the Ship to Gaza campaign.
The boat traveled from Sweden through the waters of Norway, Germany, France, Spain and Portugal before reaching Messina, Italy, last week.
"The short stop in Messina was an intensive one with meetings with peace activists and a press conference at the city hall," the group noted on their website.
The boat was expected to arrive in Greece this week, before attempting to breach the blockade and reach Gaza.
In May 2010 nine Turkish citizens were killed after Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara, part of a flotilla that was attempting to reach Gaza. An Israeli inquiry found that the soldiers opened fire after the activists aboard the ship attempted to attack them with knives and metal rods.
Comment: It's a sickening truth that those in Congress are always ready to send soldiers off to war and to publicly congratulate them for service, but when it comes time to actually take care of these same people, those in charge cannot be bothered.
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