Ann Wright & Women's Boat to Gaza
Published on April 17, 2017 by City Channel 4 in Iowa City ...
On April 10th Iowans for Palestine and Veterans for Peace Chapter 161 presented Colonel Ann Wright, who discussed her latest attempt to break the Israeli siege on Gaza.
Ann Wright served 29 years in the US Army and retired as a Colonel, then serving as a US diplomat for 16 years in US Embassies in Nicaragua, Grenada, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone, Micronesia, Afghanistan and Mongolia. She resigned from the US government in March, 2003 in opposition to the war on Iraq. Since her resignation, she has traveled to Gaza seven times, and was an organizer for the 2016 Women's Boats to Gaza, serving as a boat leader.
On April 10th Iowans for Palestine and Veterans for Peace Chapter 161 presented Colonel Ann Wright, who discussed her latest attempt to break the Israeli siege on Gaza.
Ann Wright served 29 years in the US Army and retired as a Colonel, then serving as a US diplomat for 16 years in US Embassies in Nicaragua, Grenada, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone, Micronesia, Afghanistan and Mongolia. She resigned from the US government in March, 2003 in opposition to the war on Iraq. Since her resignation, she has traveled to Gaza seven times, and was an organizer for the 2016 Women's Boats to Gaza, serving as a boat leader.
Women's Boat to Gaza boarded
by Israeli military
in international waters
by Israeli military
in international waters
by Allison Deger October 5, 2016 in http://mondoweiss.net
A boat and its 13-woman crew sailing toward the shores of occupied Gaza was taken into custody by the Israeli navy this afternoon, ending a month-long sea voyage to "break the siege on Gaza." The Israeli military said the vessel—organized by the international activist group the Women's Boat to Gaza—was still in international waters, around 35 nautical miles from the Israeli port of Ashdod, at the time of the "uneventful" seizure. ...
According to the Israeli military, the all-female activist ship was warned they were nearing Gaza's shores and told to change course. The ship did not reroute. "Following their refusal the Navy visited and searched the vessel in international waters in order to prevent their intended breach of the lawful maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip. The visit and search of the vessel was uneventful," the Israeli military said.
"It is important to know that this happened in international waters and it is not only illegal but sets a bad precedent in giving a green light for other nations to attack civilian ships in international waters," [Activists with the Women's Boat to Gaza] said in a statement [10-5-2016].
—This story at: www.mondoeiss.net
—Newsfeed: wbg.freedomflotilla.org/news/
A boat and its 13-woman crew sailing toward the shores of occupied Gaza was taken into custody by the Israeli navy this afternoon, ending a month-long sea voyage to "break the siege on Gaza." The Israeli military said the vessel—organized by the international activist group the Women's Boat to Gaza—was still in international waters, around 35 nautical miles from the Israeli port of Ashdod, at the time of the "uneventful" seizure. ...
According to the Israeli military, the all-female activist ship was warned they were nearing Gaza's shores and told to change course. The ship did not reroute. "Following their refusal the Navy visited and searched the vessel in international waters in order to prevent their intended breach of the lawful maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip. The visit and search of the vessel was uneventful," the Israeli military said.
"It is important to know that this happened in international waters and it is not only illegal but sets a bad precedent in giving a green light for other nations to attack civilian ships in international waters," [Activists with the Women's Boat to Gaza] said in a statement [10-5-2016].
—This story at: www.mondoeiss.net
—Newsfeed: wbg.freedomflotilla.org/news/
Two women's boats set sail for Gaza in effort to break blockade
by Allison Deger on September 16, 2016
Two vessels with all-female crews set sail for Gaza from Spain on Wednesday [September 14, 2016] in an attempt to break the nine-year Israeli blockade on the coastal Mediterranean strip. The Women's Boat to Gaza is the fourth of its kind, captained by women-only, with 30 female activists and high-ranking officials aboard the Arabic-named Zaytouna ("Olive") and the Amal ("Hope").
The organization said in a statement the boats are on a course to pierce Israel's maritime control over Gaza's borders, and in doing so, raise awareness of conditions inside of the Strip.
"While our focus is on opposing the blockade against the Palestinian people of Gaza, we see this in the larger context of supporting the right to freedom of movement for all Palestinians," the group said on their website. "The Occupation daily violates the rights of Palestinians to move freely around their country and to leave and return to their country, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
—This story at: www.mondoweiss.net
from wbg.freedomflotilla.org/news/ on September 20th ...
Ajaccio, Corsica, France: The Women's Boat to Gaza [Zaytouna-Oliva — the Amal-Hope had engine problems and returned to port] left the port of Ajaccio at 09:30 this morning. It is due to arrive later this week in Messina, Sicily, Italy, where it will dock for the last time, prior to sailing to challenge the illegal blockade of Gaza.
One of the participants aboard, Lisa Gay Hamilton said: "It is an honor to be here and join this extraordinary group of women. This issue is bigger than me, than any of us. As a mother, as a daughter, as a sister, I cannot help thinking of Palestinian women in Gaza, who live in an open-air prison because of the occupation. It is so painful to think of them, we have to take action to end the blockade of Gaza." A full list of the participants on this leg is available at: wbg.freedomflotilla.org/participants
Ren� Abu Joub, spokesperson and one of the local organisers in Messina said: "We are very pleased to host the women on Zaytouna-Oliva before they embark on this historic voyage." During their stay in Messina, all of the women will participate in non-violence training, whilst finalising supplies and equipment for the boat.
A previous Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, the Marianne av G�teborg from Sweden, departed from Sicily last year. It however was raided in international waters by the Israeli Occupation Forces. When asked whether the Zaytouna-Oliva will reach its destination, Abu Joub replied: "Our destination remains the conscience of humanity. It is up to every one of us to help them succeed in this."
by Allison Deger on September 16, 2016
Two vessels with all-female crews set sail for Gaza from Spain on Wednesday [September 14, 2016] in an attempt to break the nine-year Israeli blockade on the coastal Mediterranean strip. The Women's Boat to Gaza is the fourth of its kind, captained by women-only, with 30 female activists and high-ranking officials aboard the Arabic-named Zaytouna ("Olive") and the Amal ("Hope").
The organization said in a statement the boats are on a course to pierce Israel's maritime control over Gaza's borders, and in doing so, raise awareness of conditions inside of the Strip.
"While our focus is on opposing the blockade against the Palestinian people of Gaza, we see this in the larger context of supporting the right to freedom of movement for all Palestinians," the group said on their website. "The Occupation daily violates the rights of Palestinians to move freely around their country and to leave and return to their country, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
—This story at: www.mondoweiss.net
from wbg.freedomflotilla.org/news/ on September 20th ...
Ajaccio, Corsica, France: The Women's Boat to Gaza [Zaytouna-Oliva — the Amal-Hope had engine problems and returned to port] left the port of Ajaccio at 09:30 this morning. It is due to arrive later this week in Messina, Sicily, Italy, where it will dock for the last time, prior to sailing to challenge the illegal blockade of Gaza.
One of the participants aboard, Lisa Gay Hamilton said: "It is an honor to be here and join this extraordinary group of women. This issue is bigger than me, than any of us. As a mother, as a daughter, as a sister, I cannot help thinking of Palestinian women in Gaza, who live in an open-air prison because of the occupation. It is so painful to think of them, we have to take action to end the blockade of Gaza." A full list of the participants on this leg is available at: wbg.freedomflotilla.org/participants
Ren� Abu Joub, spokesperson and one of the local organisers in Messina said: "We are very pleased to host the women on Zaytouna-Oliva before they embark on this historic voyage." During their stay in Messina, all of the women will participate in non-violence training, whilst finalising supplies and equipment for the boat.
A previous Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, the Marianne av G�teborg from Sweden, departed from Sicily last year. It however was raided in international waters by the Israeli Occupation Forces. When asked whether the Zaytouna-Oliva will reach its destination, Abu Joub replied: "Our destination remains the conscience of humanity. It is up to every one of us to help them succeed in this."
