Following the ship with a 1080 passenger capacity named “Mavi Marmara” (Blue Marmara), IHH (The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief) has purchased another cargo ship which will carry humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip. The dry cargo vessel named “Gaza”, will transport medicines, medical items, cement and iron. Anchored in Haydarpasa Harbor in Istanbul, has a cargo capacity of 3150 tons.
Turkish-flagged ship, made in 1981, is 82 meters long and weighs a total of 1999 gross tons. The ship, purchased for 850.000 USD, will embark on its journey to Gaza through the Mediterranean together with other ships. It is expected that together with ships joining from Europe, 15 ships will join the flotilla. The activists who previously broke the embargo through the land with a convoy of 200 vehicles, are now preparing to break it by the sea.
“Palestine our route, humanitarian aid our load” campaign is run by activists participating from all over the world such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia and Venezuela. 42 countries so far are supporting the project.
IHH’s General President Bulent Yildirim, said that they preferred the seaway with the aim of delivering more aid to the people of Gaza. Yildirim also mentioned that they would transport tons of aid to Palestinian people by those ships. Yildirim pointing out that in Gaza, 1.500.000 million people are struggling to survive with only very little help that is carried through the tunnels and said, “Where on earth, in which country in the world, does there exist such a practice? It is just like restricting a man to breathe only through a tube while he can breathe naturally. Only limited amounts and types of aid materials are let through these tunnels. Besides, these items cost a lot more than they normally should. So many children are losing their lives due to a lack of medicines and medical supplies. Who is going to be held responsible for all this? This embargo has a place neither in the heart and the conscience of the mankind nor in terms of international justice. Now, we are acting against it. I hope, God willing, the governments will act against the embargo as well. If Israel is left alone, isolated, this will quicken the end of the embargo.”
Donations and support appreciated
No ship-owner consented to lease theirs for the campaign, that is why the Foundation had to purchase its own ships, said Bulent Yildirim, the General President of IHH. He also added, “We are expecting donations from our beneficent public. There is something each and everyone can do to help Palestinian people under the embargo.”
