Mairead Maguire sails for Gaza

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Monday October 27, 2008 10:50 by Justin Morahan

If the siege continues, it will cause famine and disease

Following a successful landing in Gaza on 23 August 2008 and an unsuccessful venture in September, the Free Gaza Movement is sailing again tomorrow, 28 October 2008, to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver food and medicines to the people.
Among the 26 activists will be Mairead Corrigan Maguire whose Press release appears below. See also her story of previous attempt to sail to Gaza in Indymedia article "Help Call for Gaza".

PRESS RELEASE - Embargoed 27 Oct.2008

MAIREAD MAGUIRE, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, CALLS UPON IRISH GOVERNMENT TO SAIL VESSEL WITH MEDICINES AND AID IMMEDIATELY TO GAZA AND BREAK THE ISRAELI BLOCKADE WHICH IS CAUSING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA

October 28th, 2008, Mairead Maguire will join the Free Gaza Movement to Sail for Gaza. The purpose of the journey is to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which is a collective punishment of the people of Gaza, causing a humanitarian crisis.

Maguire will join five physicians, also Jamal Zahalka, a member of the Israeli Knesset and Mustafa Barghouthi, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, both of whom are determined to forge alliances with their countrymen in Gaza. They have been unable to do this because of Israeli's policy of closing all land borders to the people of Gaza. The boat will carry 26 passengers and a crew to the Port of Gaza.

The Free Gaza Movement will bring in 6 cubic metres of medicine and some of the medical specialists will remain in Gaza to assist in this worsening crisis. If this situation continues, a UN official has warned, it will cause famine and disease and yet another catastrophe for the one and a half million people of Gaza, trapped inside what is the worlds' largest human-made prison.

Maguire said before leaving: “It seems incredible in this the 2lst century, that families in Gaza are asking for cough bottles and medicines, indeed all the basic things we take for granted and they cannot get, because the Israeli Government for 16 months have cut them off from the World. The medicines which Free Gaza Movement carry to them are purely symbolic. Until this cruel blockade is lifted by Israel, what is required immediately is a huge humanitarian response from the International community to deal with this Israeli Government made crisis. Yet all world Governments are committing the 'Crime of Silence' in face of this cruelty and inhumanity perpetrated by Israel upon women and children.

"I call upon the Irish Government to load a Vessel of medicines, food and aid that will sail immediately for Gaza… If they refuse to do so, then surely some other Government will have the moral courage to defy Israeli Government's Blockade of Gaza, and save the children?”

ENDS

Contact: Mairead Maguire
Nobel Peace Laureate
www.peacepeople.com
Tel: 07736147713