Irish peace campaigners plan to buy ship to join Gaza freedom flotilla

IRISH peace campaigners are preparing to buy a ship to carry up to 50 activists, politicians and media among others to take part in a second international freedom flotilla to war-torn Gaza.

Organisers are looking at buying a vessel, possibly in Greece or Turkey, that will join at least another 10 ships in October in a bid to break the Israeli sea blockade of the Palestinian enclave.

Fundraising has already started to fund the ship’s cost as well as the planned cargo of mainly reconstruction and medical supplies.

Irish campaigners also plan to notify the Government and embassy officials of travel plans for security reasons, following the Israeli raid on the first flotilla in June, which left 10 people dead.

Activist Dr Fintan Lane said: “We want a ship that will take a large number of people, so it will be of significant size.

“We’re not talking about a cargo ship but maybe a postal boat which would take cargo and people.

“We intend to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs in advance and let them know which Irish people will be travelling and ensure the relevant embassies out there are aware if there are any difficulties,” said Dr Lane.

Legal support will also be arranged for participants on the ship, added Dr Lane.

The Cork man was among several Irish people wrestled from vessels by Israeli commandos as a peace flotilla attempted to land with cargo in Gaza in June.

A United Nations inquiry has begun into why Israeli military who stormed the vessels opened fire and killed 10 activists.

Pro-Palestinian supporters expect to launch their Gaza ship plan in the next two weeks.

Already a number of high profile politicians both North and south have approached activists about joining the flotilla.

Dr Lane, along with fellow Irish citizens Isam Bin Ali and Al Mahdi Al Harat, two Libyan-born men who also took part in the first flotilla, are expected to join the second attempt to reach Gaza.

It is thought that members of the Muslim community in Ireland are already fundraising for the October trip.

Fianna Fáil’s Chris Andrews and Sinn Féin’s Aengus O Snodaigh were among those who tried unsuccessfully to take part in the first flotilla. Both could not be contacted yesterday about the possibility of joining the second wave of Gaza-bound ships.

Groups fundraising for the trip include the Free Gaza Movement, the Irish Anti-War Movement, the Dublin-based Palestinian Rights Institute and the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, as well as associated trade unions.