Policy Director of Just Foreign Policy Robert Naiman is a passenger on the U.S. Boat to Gaza, and Just Foreign Policy has organized an integrated campaign around the flotilla--including media work, congressional advocacy, and organized action here in the United States--to end collective punishment on the Gaza Strip. (See JFP’s press release on Robert Naiman’s participation and congressional action on the U.S. Boat to Gaza here.)
On Friday, July 1, the Audacity of Hope attempted to sail to Greece. Passengers on board reported that after only 20 minutes, "heavily armed Greek forces with their firearms drawn forced a Gaza-bound ship to turn around and return to Greece, where the vessel is now being held in a military base". The U.S. Boat to Gaza is calling on everyone to contact the Greek embassy in D.C.: 202-939-1300 and asking that they allow that they allow the Audacity of Hope safe passage. For the latest updates on the flotilla, check out the U.S. Boat to Gaza website here, and follow Robert on Twitter and Just Foreign Policy on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for JFP's email's here.
Below are some of the Frequently Asked Questions we’ve received regarding the Freedom Flotilla II and the U.S. Boat to Gaza.
1) What is the U.S. Boat to Gaza? What is the Freedom Flotilla II?
The U.S. Boat to Gaza, the Audacity of Hope, is the U.S.-flagged ship which is participating in a multi-ship flotilla bound for Gaza. The mission of the Freedom Flotilla II is to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. There are 36 passengers, 4 crewmembers, and 10 journalists on board the Audacity of Hope, including renowned author and civil rights activists Alice Walker, Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, retired Army Colonel and U.S. diplomat Ann Wright, former CIA officer Ray McGovern, former Israeli air force Captain Yonatan Shapira, and dozens of other peace activists on board.....in addition to our own Robert Naiman! (Check out their bios here.) A quarter of the passengers are Jewish and all are deeply committed to nonviolence. Their only cargo consists of letters of goodwill and support for the people of Gaza. Alice Walker has called the flotilla, "the freedom ride of this era".
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