Since the end of August, activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla have been sailing to Gaza. Activists from at least 44 countries including comrade Ghassan Henchiri member of the Political Bureau of PPDS Tunisia, a member of ICOR with too many brave progressive activists and political leaders from the four corners of the world are now traveling to Gaza on more than 50 ships to break the blockade, which violates international law and through which Israel is systematically starving the people and cutting them off from medical care. As with the Freedom Flotilla in the summer, ICOR members from Tunisia are once again on board.

The first ships, the Sun Flower and the Adara, are approaching the zone where previous flotilla missions were captured by the Israeli army.

The convoys from Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Morocco and Greece have now joined forces off Crete to sail together to Gaza. Already on their way there, they have been attacked three times by drones. On behalf of ICOR, we protest against these attacks. Dropping incendiary bombs on the ships deliberately risks the destruction of the ships and the death of the crew. It is only thanks to the vigilance of the activists and crews that no one was harmed.

The Freedom Coalition Flotilla in partnership with 1000 Madleen Flotilla have  also joined forces and sent 8 ships that sailed off to Gaza on the 27th from Italy with 70 activists carrying baby formula, medicines and food.

The Freedom Coalition Flotilla is also preparing a special mission called „Media and Medics“ which consists of sending a new boat carrying 200 journalists, doctors, nurses and paramedics in a very symbolic action to denounce killing of journalists and Medics and bombing hospitals in Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is joining forces with the mass protests against the genocide of the Palestinian people. Widespread protests in Germany, Spain, Australia and Great Britain, Greece, France among other countries, as well as nationwide strikes in Italy, are putting pressure on those in power. 

Dock workers in Geneva, Italy as well as in too many other ports around the world, refused to ship arms to Israel and are organizing boycott actions. 

Eleven countries have therefore recognized the state of Palestine during the UN General Assembly. Finland is calling for the abolition of the veto power of the members of the UN Security Council, which the US in particular repeatedly uses to prevent the now clear majority in the UN General Assembly in favor of a Palestinian state (157 of the 193 member states, that is 81%) from having any consequences. Another concession to solidarity is that Italy and Spain have now each sent a frigate to protect the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Alongside US imperialism, German imperialism remains Israel's most important supporter. The ICOR supports the lawsuits against the German government for aiding and abetting genocide and is itself suing for aiding and abetting war crimes against the Al-Awda Hospital.

ICOR has signed a solidarity pact with Al-Awda hospital to collect donations to rebuild Al-Awda hospital in Gaza.

The recognition of Palestine by more and more countries is a first success of the protests, which are not intimidated even by brutal repression. Hundreds have been arrested in the UK, and the brutal attacks by the German police—especially in Berlin—have been criticized worldwide. Workers protesting against the shipment of weapons to Israel have been dismissed without notice. In all these cases, worldwide solidarity against the reprisals is needed. Stop the criminalization of solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle! Freedom for Palestine!

Israel is increasingly on the defensive internationally. The government is responding by intensifying its terror against the Palestinian people in its attack on Gaza City and by declaring the most active members of the Global Sumud Flotilla to be terrorists and announcing that they will be treated accordingly. Hands off the activists! Immediate withdrawal of all Israeli occupation forces from Palestine!

Let us intensify our protests against the genocide of the Palestinian people and against the complicity of our own governments with Israel!

We will closely monitor further developments and are prepared for anything.

Free Palestine! 

Long live International solidarity with Palestine! 

Monika Gärtner-Engel, ICOR Main Coordinator

Hatem Laouini, Deputy ICOR Main Coordinator