Freedom Flotilla III

Last updated

Freedom Flotilla III (#FF3) was a flotilla that planned to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel by sailing to Gaza. It started from Sweden on 10 May 2015 and stopped in several European cities along the way to Gaza. It started officially from Athens, Greece on 25 June 2015. [1] Few details were released in advance. [2]

Contents

On 29 June 2015 the Swedish-flagged vessel "Marianne" was intercepted by the Israeli navy [3] in international waters about 100 nautical miles from the Palestinian coast of Gaza. The Israeli military reported that no force was needed during the operation. However, eye-witness video published by Israeli Channel 2 TV shows people being tasered by IDF commandos. [4] The Marianne was boarded by Israeli forces and taken to the port of Ashdod, while the rest of the ships turned back. [5]

Organizers of the flotilla have repeatedly stated the boat was carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza. According to Israel's defense minister Moshe Yaalon "there was no aid on board". The activists supplied a picture with two boxes containing a single solar panel and a nebulizer and added that the boat was to be donated to Gazan fishermen. [6]

On 30 June 2015, Israel began releasing some detainees. Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki was deported to Paris, France, while Member of European Parliament Ana Miranda from Galicia was deported to Spain. Arab Member of the Israeli Knesset Basel Ghattas, and Israeli journalist Ohad Chamo, were released. [7] Two Canadians and a Norwegian sailor were deported on July 2. [8] A Russian journalist and six Swedish participants remained in prison until July 6. [9]

Reactions to the Flotilla

Official

Unofficial

Participants

This is not a complete list. [23]

StatePersonalityStatus
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia Moncef Marzouki Former President of Tunisia.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Kajsa Ekis Ekman Journalist, writer and activist.
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Teresa Forcades Physician and a Benedictine nun.
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Nisreen El-Hashemite Physician and researcher, Executive Director of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust.
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Robert Lovelace Activist and professor at the Department of Global Development Studies at Queen's University.
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Kevin Neish Activist and a human rights activist in the International Solidarity Movement.
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco Abouzaid El Mokrie El Idrissi  [ ar ]Advocate, thinker and deputy in the House of Representatives.
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Estefanía Torres Martínez Member of the European Parliament.
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan Yahya Saoud Deputy in the Parliament of Jordan.
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Basel Ghattas Arab citizen of Israel and deputy in the Knesset for Balad and the Joint List.
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia Anouar Gharbi Advisor of former Tunisian President Marzouki and a founder of the European campaign to break the siege of Gaza.
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Robert Martin Anti-war activist.
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Pablo Miranzo Photographer and activist.
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Ana Miranda Paz Member of the European Parliament.
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Nasser Hamdadaouch Deputy in the People's National Assembly.
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Gerd von der Lippe  [ no ]Sports sociologist and former sprinter, professor, journalist and writer.
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Özlem Cekic Former Deputy in the Danish Parliament.
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Joe MeadorsFormer U.S. Navy signalman, who survived the USS Liberty incident.
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Ann Wright Former United States Army colonel and retired U.S. State Department official.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Bertil Gustafsson Applied mathematician and numerical analyst.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Dror Feiler An Israeli-born Swedish musician, artist and left-wing activist.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Maria Svensson Official spokeswoman of Feminist Initiative.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Daniel Sestrajcic Former Deputy in the Swedish Parliament.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Ulf Bjereld Professor at the University of Gothenburg and head of the Religious Social Democrats of Sweden.
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Åsmund Grøver Aukrust Deputy member of the Parliament of Norway.
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Claudio Tamaglini Peace activist with the International Solidarity Movement.
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Rosa Lund Member of the Danish Parliament.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Åsa Opperdoes Activist.
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Trine Pertou Mach  [ da ]Deputy in the Danish Parliament.
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Hajar Al-Mutairi Journalist with the Anadolu Agency.
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Tayfun Jalci Journalist with the Anadolu Agency.
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Eduardo Muriel Journalist with La Marea  [ es ].
Flag of France.svg  France Aissa Boukanoun Journalist with Euronews.
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco Mohammed El Bakkali Journalist with Al Jazeera .
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Ammar Al Hamdan Journalist with Al Jazeera .
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Abdel Lateef Belkaim Journalist with Echourouk TV.
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Jacob Bryant Journalist with Māori Television.
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Ruwani Perera Journalist with Māori Television.
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Nadya Kevorkova Journalist.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Lennart Berggren Journalist.
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Martin Lejeune Journalist.
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Ohad Chamo Journalist with Channel 2.
Other media: Russia Today, Al-Quds TV

Ships

The following ships participated in the flotilla:

Organization partners

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mattias Gardell</span> Swedish historian of religions

Hans Bertil Mattias Gardell is a Swedish historian and scholar of comparative religion. He is the current holder of the Nathan Söderblom Chair of Comparative Religion at Uppsala University, Sweden. He was the first Lenin Award laureate in 2009, and received The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities Award for Distinguished Research in the Humanities, the Royal Gold Medal, in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Gaza Movement</span> Movement challenging the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip

The Free Gaza Movement (FGM) is a coalition of human rights activists and pro-Palestinian groups formed to break Egypt and Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and publicise the situation of the Palestinians there. FGM has challenged the Israeli–Egyptian blockade by sailing humanitarian aid ships to Gaza. The group has more than 70 endorsers, including the late Desmond Tutu and Noam Chomsky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blockade of the Gaza Strip</span> 2005–present land, sea and air blockade by Israel and Egypt

A blockade has been imposed on the movement of goods and people in and out of the Gaza Strip since Hamas's takeover in 2007, led by Israel and supported by Egypt. The blockade's current stated aim is to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza; previously stated motivations have included exerting economic pressure on Hamas. Human rights groups have called the blockade illegal and a form of collective punishment, as it restricts the flow of essential goods, contributes to economic hardship, and limits Gazans' freedom of movement. The blockade and its effects have led to the territory being called an "open-air prison".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IHH (Turkish NGO)</span> Organization

IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation or İHH is a conservative Turkish GONGO, active in more than 120 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zouhair Yahyaoui</span>

Zouhair Yahyaoui was the first cyber-dissident to be pursued and condemned in Tunisia, a country that is often rated at the top of lists of Internet policing by independent third-party sources such as the OpenNet Initiative. He was the nephew of the judge Mokhtar Yahyaoui, who was also a vocal critic of the Tunisian regime and its lack of respect for judiciary processes. His cousin Amira Yahyaoui founded the NGO Al Bawsala.

MV <i>Rachel Corrie</i>

MV Rachel Corrie is a 499 GT coaster owned and operated by the Free Gaza Movement. The ship is named in honour of Rachel Corrie, a deceased member of the International Solidarity Movement. Built by J.J. Sietas in Hamburg in 1967, she was originally named Carsten; she has also carried the names Norasia Attika, Manya and Linda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza flotilla raid</span> 2010 Israeli military operation against a humanitarian ship convoy

The Gaza flotilla raid was a military operation by Israel against six civilian ships of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" on 31 May 2010 in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. Nine of the flotilla passengers were killed during the raid, with thirty wounded. Ten Israeli soldiers were wounded, one seriously. The exact sequence of events is contested, in part due to the IDF's confiscation of the passengers' photographic evidence. The flotilla, organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH), was carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials, intending to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Reactions to the Gaza flotilla raid on 31 May 2010 ranged from fierce condemnation to strong support for Israel.

Many legal assessments of the Gaza flotilla raid were published subsequent to the event. International law experts differed over the legality of the action by Israel. The force necessary to respond to violent resistance and whether the force that was used was proportionate were disputed.

Gaza journey of MV<i> Rachel Corrie</i> 2010 humanitarian voyage

The Cambodian-flagged Irish MV Rachel Corrie was part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla that sailed to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid in 2010. The ship was unable to join the other six ships in the flotilla because of mechanical problems that forced it to undergo repairs in Malta. The other six ships were confronted by a raid on 31 May 2010 during which nine activists were killed by Israeli naval forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza Freedom Flotilla</span> 2010 aid flotilla from Cypriot to Palestinian water

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a small fleet of ships organized in 2010 by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH) carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials with the intention of breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. In typical circumstances, aid is first brought to Israel to be inspected and then transferred to Gaza.

The Turkel Commission was an inquiry set up by Israeli Government to investigate the Gaza flotilla raid, and the Blockade of Gaza. It was led by Israeli retired Supreme Court Judge Jacob Turkel. The other initial members of the commission were former President of the Technion and military expert, Amos Horev, and professor of international law, Shabtai Rosenne, who died in September 2010. The probe was overseen by two International observers: William David Trimble, former Leader of the Northern Irish Ulster Unionist Party and Northern Irish First Minister, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Canadian former military judge Ken Watkin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moncef Marzouki</span> President of Tunisia from 2011 to 2014

Mohamed Moncef Marzouki is a Tunisian politician who served as the fifth president of Tunisia from 2011 to 2014. Through his career he has been a human rights activist, physician and politician. On 12 December 2011, he was elected President of Tunisia by the Constituent Assembly.

"Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human" was a flotilla that planned to break the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel by sailing to Gaza on 5 July 2011. Ultimately, the sailing did not take place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ship to Gaza (Sweden)</span>

Ship to Gaza is a Swedish organization that aims to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip by delivering humanitarian aid from Scandinavia to Gaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ismail Haniyeh</span> Palestinian politician (born 1962)

Ismail Haniyeh is a Palestinian politician who is widely considered to be the chief political leader of Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. He is the current chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau. As of 2023, he lives in Qatar.

National reactions to the Gaza flotilla raid on 31 May 2010 ranged from support to strong condemnation of Israel. Those supporting Israel generally also expressed concern for the loss of life and injuries to civilians. Criticism included the death and injuries of civilians, the disproportionate response, and the execution of the raid.

The Women's Boat to Gaza (WBG) was an initiative by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in 2016 to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The WBG consisted of an entirely female crew and one ship, Zaytouna-Oliva. It started from Barcelona on 14 September 2016 and visited Ajaccio, Corsica and Messina, Sicily along the way. On 5 October 2016, the Israeli Navy intercepted the Women's Boat to Gaza and detained its crew members, who were taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The activists were subsequently deported to their home countries.

References

  1. "Freedom Flotilla III sets sail from Sweden to break Gaza siege". Middle East Monitor . 13 May 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  2. "Freedom Flotilla III expected to set sail for Gaza". The Jerusalem Post . 1 May 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  3. "Israeli Navy Peacefully Intercepts Gaza-Bound Vessel". The New York Times . June 29, 2015.
  4. "IDF violence against passangers [sic] of Ship to Gaza boat Marianne". YouTube. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  5. "Freedom Flotilla III: Marianne approaches Gaza, sailing boats return back". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. June 29, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  6. "The 'humanitarian aid' aboard a recent flotilla to Gaza fit in two cardboard boxes". The Washington Post . July 1, 2015.
  7. "Israel deports Tunisia ex-president after Gaza flotilla". The Times of India . June 30, 2015.
  8. "Three released tomorrow (02/07), Kevorkova and all Swedes retained". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. July 3, 2015.
  9. "The detained Swedes will be deported during Sunday and Monday". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. July 3, 2015.
  10. "Israel intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla in 'casualty-free' operation". Haaretz . June 29, 2015.
  11. "UN Undersecretary-General slams Israel's detention of former Tunisian president". Daily News Egypt . June 30, 2015.
  12. "ISESCO condemns Israeli action to seize Freedom Flotilla". Islamic Republic News Agency. June 30, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  13. "Tunisia Calls for Release of Participants in Freedom III Flotilla". AllAfrica.com. June 29, 2015.
  14. "Qatar Condemns Interception of Freedom Flotilla III". Qatar News Agency. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  15. "Sweden reacts to Israeli capture of Gaza flotilla vessel". Anadolu Agency. June 30, 2015.
  16. "Haniya condemns Israeli piracy against Freedom Flotilla 3". Hamas. June 29, 2015.
  17. "بيان حركة النهضة إثر قرصنة أسطول الحرية 3". Ennahda Movement. June 29, 2015.
  18. "بيان حزب التكتل إثر سيطرة بحرية سلط الاحتلال الإسرائيلية على سفينة ماريان". Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties. June 29, 2015.
  19. "بيان: اقدم جيش الاحتلال الإسرائيلي على اعتراض سفينة " ماريان" التابعة لاسطول". Republican Party (Tunisia). June 29, 2015. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  20. "التيّار الديمقراطي يدين عملية القرصنة التي قامت بها سلطات الإحتلال الصهيوني للسفينة "ماريان"". Democratic Current. June 29, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  21. "بيان صحفي حول اعتقال "حملة أسطول الحرية". Hizb ut-Tahrir. June 29, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  22. "Spain: Left wing parties condemn Israeli flotilla action". Anadolu Agency. June 30, 2015.
  23. See the full list on the official website.