Amid anger against the genocide and collective emotion, dozens of international activists left Barcelona for Gaza in the Global Sumud Flotilla. Cele Fierro participates in it representing the International Socialist League (ISL).
By Florencia Salgueiro
Anger, emotion and solidarity
Friday 29th and Saturday 30th constitued the Day for Palestine, described in “Barcelona: Countdown to Gaza”. The third day, which took place on Sunday 31st, was a vibrant event with thousands of participants: families, artists, musicians, dancers, poets and activists united with the same voice.
Anger against the genocide and the Zionist blockade was combined with hugs, applause and encouragement to the Flotilla. Two words were repeatedly heard by the participants : “Thank you”.
An internationalist wave
Solidarity with the Flotilla has been enormous. Greetings, statements and photos and othr expressions of support arrived from different countries. It was widely heard that: “The civil Flotilla does more than the governments”, in allusion to the complicity of the governments that while hypocritically lamenting the massacres and the famine, continue trading with Israel and supplying it with weapons. They should break off relations immediately.
ISL voices and delegation
The International Socialist League (ISL) was present in the port of Barcelona with our comrade Cele Fierro (MST-Argentina) who will be part of the Flotilla.
Cele spent time with other international activists and spoke with local and international media, spreading the Flotilla’s action.
As well as Socialism and Liberty (SOL) – Spanish State, organizations of the ISL expressed their solidarity in Genoa. Comrades of the Communist Worker’s Power (PCL) and others are preparing to do so in Tunisia and from Lebanon, where other comrades will be accompanying the Flotilla first stop.
First sailing
The Day for Palestine came to an end with a farewell ceremony in which coordinators Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek spoke.
Subsequently, the Flotilla set sail for the first time from the port of Barcelona in a context of collective support and excitement. However, the ships had to return to port shortly after the start of the voyage due to adverse weather conditions.
Resuming the journey despite the drawbacks
Far from being discouraged, on Monday, September 1, the ships returned to the Mediterranean, reaffirming their commitment to Gaza. However, some of them had to return to port, a fact that was explained in a second statement.
Official press releases from the Global Sumud Flotilla:
A difficult sea, an enormous mission
The planned route covers approximately 3,000 km (1,620 nautical miles). The Mediterranean at this time of year may seem calm, but it can also unleash sudden storms, high winds and imposing swells. These conditions affect all ships, but hit small and older vessels the hardest.
Nevertheless, the determination remains: the next meeting point will be in Tunisia, on September 4, where ships from Spain, Italy and Greece will join the flotilla. It is estimated that the Flotilla could arrive in Gaza between September 14 and 15, but all dates are tentative.
The solidarity with the Palestinian people that is sweeping the world worries Zionism, which has responded with threats.
“They will be treated as terrorists.”
Israel’s security minister has already issued warnings: he is threatening to intercept the boats and lock up the participants in “terrorist” prisons for prolonged periods.
Zionist barbarism is not surprising. In the past, the Handala and Madleen ships were intercepted and their crews deported. Now the threat is even greater.
They are not terrorists: they are in solidarity
In the face of Zionism’s lies, it must be made clear: the real terrorists are Israel’s rulers, its army and the settlers who practice ethnic cleansing and genocide.
Those who travel on the ships are people of solidarity who fight for human rights, so that no more children and innocents die and so that the Palestinian people can eat.
Support the Flotilla
We must mobilize against genocide, occupation and the blockade of humanitarian aid.
It is necessary to demand the right to navigate, to denounce any interception and to demand the immediate release of activists in case of detention.
The only real way out is to defeat the criminal state of Israel and make way for a single, secular, non-racist, democratic and socialist Palestine, as part of the Socialist Revolution in the Middle East.
