Activists of the Freedom Flotilla II waiting at Greek ports are calling on Athens to allow the flotilla ships to sail to Gaza.
Holding a news conference in Athens, representatives from the Freedom Flotilla II condemned Greek administration for not allowing flotilla ships to sail to Gaza. Accusing Greece of taking orders from Israel, activists said they will continue to fight to break the blockade on Gaza.
Activists also denounced the government actions and policies forbidding ships of the Flotilla to leave Greek ports, effectively extending the Israeli siege of Gaza to Greek waters and outsourcing the siege of Gaza.
Greek activist Dimitris Plionis said: “Our sole goal is to take humanitarian aid to Gaza. We will fight to break the blockade on Gaza until the very end. Greece’s forbidding 350 activists from 32 countries to leave Greek ports for Gaza via 10 boats is unacceptable.”
Swedish activist Dr. Mattias Gardell, a representative form Swedish Boat to Gaza, who said he studied at the same university with Greek Prime Minister Yorgo Papandreu in Sweden, noted that he was very surprised Papandreu’s efforts to block the flotilla considering their joint fight against injustices during university years.
Among the participants of the news conference were Greek parliamentarians Tasos Kourakis, Theodoris Dritsas and Green Party representative Iannis Tsironis. The deputies harshly criticized the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) government for its efforts to block the Gaza flotilla.
In the meantime, passengers of the Spanish boat Guernica entered the Spanish embassy in Athens and staged a sit-in, demanding that the Spanish government intercede with Greece to release the boat. They hoisted the Palestinian flag and are currently refusing to leave until their boat is given permission to leave.
