The Next Flotilla leaves Sept. 18

Karen Nakamura

A second “Viva Palestina” Flotilla is scheduled to set forth for Gaza on September 18.

Pro-Palestinian activist and former British MP George Galloway announced August 13 in the English “Morning Star” newspaper that at least 3 ships are planning Gaza Flotilla 2.

The convoy of ships are said to be leaving from such ports as London, Casablanca and Doha in Qatar. Other reports include Turkey, whose relationship with Israel has been tense since Israel killed a number of Turkish citizens in the last Flotilla of May 31.

The Flotilla will include supplies of medical instruments and other humanitarian supplies and will attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition include IHH, which together with the Free Gaza movement led the first flotilla. The Swedish Ship to Gaza, European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza and the Greek Ship to Gaza are also included. Other than George Galloway, coalition members include the highly respected Huwaida Arraaf and Greta Berlin.

The Turkish aid group, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation or IHH has been outlawed by Israel and accused of having ties to Hamas. This group sponsored the lead boat, the Mavi Marmara, in the Free Gaza Flotilla in May. Nine members of the coalition were killed. Aboard the various ships were 718 people aboard the various ships from 37 nations.

Another flotilla, the Saint Mariam (Virgin Mary) from Lebanon and a multi-faith, international, all-women group was prepared to leave Tripoli the 8th of August but refrained after Israeli diplomatic pressure on Lebanon stopped the departure. This flotilla had a group of nuns from the US and included Lebanese singer May Hariri. They were composed of nuns, doctors, lawyers, journalists, Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Whether the Saint Mariam and its sister ship, Naji Alali, will join the September sailing remains to be seen. But international interest and activity is growing. There are rumors that activists from a number of countries may join. Saudi Arabian and United Arab Emirates activists have been rumored to want to send ships. Canadians have sent feelers. Scandinavian countries have sponsored Gaza aide projects and conferences.

To gauge the interest, when the Saint Mariam and Naji Alali crew announced their plans they were inundated with requests to join. There were 400 from the US alone.