Palestine Gaza flotilla announces delay in departure of aid ships – El Salto

The International Freedom Flotilla is still stationed in Istanbul and waiting for the green signal to leave Turkey for Gaza. The aim was to depart on Wednesday the 24th, but port procedures and realism indicate that the deadline could be extended to at least Friday. On Wednesday the main ship will move to the port of departure and instructions will be given for possible departures at the end of the week.

At the Tugra Hotel, where many participants stay and daily meetings take place, there are expectations, a certain level of tense calmness and training and workshops. “We are all disappointed,” the organization told its daily meeting on April 23. “We are prepared, but we know we are challenging governments.” It is recalled that in previous flotillas they had waited weeks before a solution. The most cited example is from 2011, when Greece blocked the departure of ships.

Today, April 23, progress has been made with the delivery of the passenger list and a meeting in Ankara, in which they wanted to set a fixed departure date.

On the other hand, international pressure on Turkey for not releasing the ships is not ending. Although there is no official confirmation, information indicates the presence of a US delegation in Ankara. “Many governments in the world are trying to stop the flotilla,” said Ann Wright, the visible face of the forum and Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) activist, gathered in Istanbul on the afternoon of April 22.

Today, April 23, progress has been made with the delivery of the passenger list and a meeting in Ankara, less than five hours away from the flotilla’s unofficial headquarters, in which they wanted to set a firm departure date. The presence in Istanbul of Zweliwelile Mandela Mandela, grandson of the South African leader Nelson Mandela, served to reinforce the main narrative of the Flotilla project: namely that humanitarian aid and political action of solidarity go hand in hand and the departure of three Gaza-bound ships The goal is to change the direction of the Israeli-led campaign since October 7, which has killed more than 34,000 people.

Israel’s response

The possible departure of the ships is a matter of extreme concern in Israel. The Israeli military (IDF) confirmed to the country’s Channel 12 broadcaster that exercises were being conducted to attack the International Freedom Flotilla in an attempt to block aid deliveries. The scenarios planned by the Shayetet 13 unit in charge of the mission include boarding and seizing ships using sophisticated equipment composed of drones, smoke bombs, stun grenades and sonic grenades, among other weapons.

At a time of heightened complexity in the Middle East, and after, on April 2, an attack on Gazan soil killed seven World Central Kitchen volunteers, Benjamin Netanyahu’s regime is faced with a problem. After these killings, the government of Joseph Biden in the United States wanted to “rage” against its main partner in the Middle East: “Incidents like yesterday (in reference to April 2) should absolutely not happen,” Biden then said of both. What was the moment of greatest public distance between governments?

In Israel the flotilla is interpreted as a provocation, but the methods used to address the problem make it difficult for the government to debate. centrist jerusalem post On 21 April, it published an editorial in which it requested that the flotilla “not be allowed” based on the precedent of the Mavi Marmara. In 2010, this ship, which was part of a convoy of five other ships carrying six thousand aid workers, was attacked. Ten Turkish citizens were killed in the attack, and the episode sparked a period of poor diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey, two countries that had strengthened relations by October 7 and even today, despite some trade sanctions measures. agreement and have continued to maintain the same. Priority partner, United States.

In his editorial, jerusalem post, presented a series of scenarios to “free” Israel from the need to address the flotilla: “This is an opportunity to internationalize the issue of taking responsibility and caring for the people of Gaza. The burden is solely on Israel. “This media reported, “Perhaps a clever way could be found that would allow international inspectors to inspect food, medicine and clothing and even allow aid to be delivered to Gaza’s needy residents under the auspices of the United Nations. State or Egypt, although past experience suggests this is doubtful.” From the perspective of this conservative environment, the objective would be to avoid at all costs an episode that would require a response from Turkey, a NATO member state.

Throughout the route instructions are given not to show resistance if any ship is attacked. “We must avoid inciting violence,” says Lisa, one of the people responsible for preparing the volunteers.

Tense peace in Turkey

Both the purchase of the ships and the majority of humanitarian aid have been mobilized inside Turkey, primarily through the conservative organization Insan Yardim Vakfi (IHH, Foundation for Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Aid), with the greater interest in ships carrying cargo with materials, Anadolu. , reaching the population of Gaza.

The ship docks in the port of Iskenderun, in the south of the country, opposite Cyprus. The other two, Akdeniz, which the international flotilla is supposed to board, and Vivek, are awaiting approval from the port authority in Istanbul.

At the Tugra Hotel, more than an hour’s drive from the port, participants are instructed in nonviolent non-resistance tactics. Throughout the route instructions are given not to show resistance if any ship is attacked. “We must avoid inciting violence,” says Lisa, one of the workshop instructors. The organization establishes a clear distinction with Mavi Marmara when facing a potential boarding: the instruction is to wait with your hands raised and without objects in them, move forward slowly and continue breathing. Legal advice focuses on how to act in the event of arrest and possible deportation of flotilla participants and journalists.