‘Governments continue to fail’: Freedom Flotilla sails again, vowing to challenge Israel’s Gaza blockade

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) is set to embark on a new international campaign to circumvent Israel’s imposed blockade on Gaza, the organization announced. The coalition is planning to sail a series of ships from European ports in order to reach the Palestine territory in October. Notably, this mission will proceed despite the harsh treatment faced by previous flotilla volunteers, which included severe beatings, multiple instances of being tasered, and sexual assault.

The coalition has also laid blame squarely on Israel, alleging that the nation has been preventing the import of essential supplies like food, medicine, and fuel to Gaza. This has left the humanitarian situation in the territory dire, prompting the FFC to assert the need for renewed global action.

Zohar Chamberlain Regev, a member of the FFC’s steering committee, expressed the coalition’s resolve in a statement. “The Freedom Flotilla sails again because our governments continue to fail to uphold their obligations,” said Regev. “At every port, we will carry the demand that Palestinians be free to live with dignity. In October, we intend to carry that demand and the solidarity of people around the world to Gaza’s shores.”