http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4201&Itemid=50Gaza / PNN - When President Abbas described the European solidarity ships arriving in the Gaza Port as part of a “ridiculous game,” organizers derided him for complicity in the Israeli siege.
Director of the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, Dr. Arafat Madi said that while Abbas “doubts the intentions” of the activists involved in the Free Gaza campaign, “these statements do not represent the Palestinian people.”
In essence Abbas’ comments in question addressed the Israeli treatment of the current missions, particularly the issue of which solidarity ships are able to make it to Gaza.
Five European ships have arrived on four missions since August 2008. They have never been prevented from moving, although have been subjected to harassment on both land and at sea. People on board are often a mix of foreigners, Arabs and Palestinians, with Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi as example.
Three Arab ships were prevented passage last week while the fifth European ship arrived this week.
The first Arab ship to attempt to bring aid via sea to the besieged Gaza Strip was the Libyan “Al Marwa.” The Libyan Minister of Health reported that 300 tons of medical aid was on board. The Israeli administration prevented passage of the ship once it reached Gaza territorial waters telling its press that it did not know what the cargo really was, and that the ship could be “carrying weapons.” An Israeli spokesperson was quoted in the Israeli daily Ha’aretz as saying, “This ship is coming from an enemy country and it will be treated as such.”
Dr. Madi of the European Campaign accused President Abass of being misinformed when he said that the Israeli Embassy in Cyprus inspects the cargo of the European ships and checks the passports of the passengers. It is true that passenger lists are often available in group emails sent by campaign organizers, while it is the Cypriot authority that inspects the ships.
The Israeli administration has said in the past that it does not prevent the European ships from arriving to the Gaza Port because it does not want to give them any more fodder for publicity.
But last week after the Libyan ship was stopped, an Israeli government source recanted in Ha’aretz and said it was “a mistake to allow any in,” referring to the Free Gaza ships, adding that “it will not happen again.” However, it did happen again. A Free Gaza boat reached port this week and left on Thursday evening taking with it 11 students. Yet still, a ship carrying Eid Al Adha toys and Palestinian members of the Israeli Knesset was prevented from leaving the Jaffa Port late last week while a Qatari ship that set sail from Cyprus was also stopped.
The next Arab ship slated to attempt delivering aid via sea to the Gaza Strip will be coming from Lebanon. Jamal Al Khudari of the Popular Committee against the Siege and also a Legislative Council member said the Lebanese aid mission should set sail within 10 days. The next Free Gaza movement mission is slated for 18 December.
The humanitarian aid, including medical supplies and doctors, that the Free Gaza movement has brought into the Strip, along with much-needed media attention of the suffering of 1.6 million people, is crucial.
Whether President Abbas was attempting to insult the European campaign as organizers have accused, or whether he was pointing out the folly of the Israelis who block Arab, but not European, ships, opinion on the street is less muddled. In an informal opinion poll, not one person said he expected the Lebanese ship to make it to the Gaza Port. At the same time, few people doubted that the Free Gaza movement would experience anything other than free passage.