(Istanbul) The “freedom flotilla” for Gaza remained blocked in Turkey on Saturday, deprived of a navigation flag following “Israeli pressure” according to the organizers.
The coalition of NGOs and associations denounced “the administrative obstacles” which prevent them from taking to the sea after Guinea-Bissau withdrew its flag, making itself “accomplice” of Israel, it accuses in a communicated.
“The Guinea-Bissau International Ship Registry (GBISR), in an overtly political move, informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had removed the Guinea-Bissau flag from two of the flotilla’s vessels, including our cargo ship loaded with more than 5,000 tons of vital aid for the Palestinians in Gaza,” she says.
She notes that “in its communication informing us of this cancellation, the GBISR made several unusual requests […] including confirmation of the ships’ destination, possible stops and port of discharge” and “required an official letter explicitly approving the transport of humanitarian aid and a full cargo manifest”.
“Normally,” the organizers say, such an inspection is “only concerned with the safety and related standards of vessels flying their flag and is not interested in destination, itinerary, cargo manifests or nature” of the trip.
“Unfortunately, Guinea-Bissau has been complicit in Israel’s deliberate famine, illegal siege and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza,” the coalition concludes.
Simultaneously a press conference was held in the historic district of Sultanhamet, in Istanbul, in the presence of the organizers and 280 volunteers – activists, rights defenders, lawyers and doctors – ready to take to the sea who chanted: “We will take to the sea », “Return the flag” and “Free Palestine”.
The three ships of the flotilla have been docked for a week in the port of Tuzla, south of Istanbul. They had planned to weigh anchor on Friday.
The Turkish authorities, who pride themselves on the support they provide to the Palestinians in Gaza, with the sending of nine boats and 13 flights of humanitarian aid, have not expressed themselves about this flotilla, nor have the official media which have not reported it.
In 2010, a previous “freedom flotilla” leaving from Antalya, in the south of Turkey, had turned into a nightmare and generated a break with Israel: the Israeli army had launched an assault on one of the buildings, the Mavi Marmara, leaving ten dead and 28 injured on board.