The mooring in the port of Augusta lasted from April 22 to 26. During that period of time, a festival was held in Syracuse, a Congress in Brussels and the progress of the land convoy was announced. Our comrades Cele Fierro and Raúl Laguna, who are part of the mission representing the International Socialist League (ISL), told us their impressions.
By Ruben Tzanoff
Cele told us about the stay
“When we arrived in Augusta it was already late, but since our boat was one of the first to arrive, we had time to buy food and went back to rest. During the night and early morning the other boats arrived. We were all tired, but happy to complete the first leg. The next day we went by bus to Syracuse, which is about 20 to 25 km from Augusta, to a festival in solidarity with our flotilla and Palestine.
This, in itself exciting, was multiplied for Raul and me, since we were able to embrace again with other comrades of the ISL, mainly Italians from the PCL of Catania, Palermo, Syracuse – with Alberto supporting us in everything – and with Jaqueline from the GAM of Germany, who we had already been with in Barcelona. Being so far away from our families worried about the mission, a militant embrace feels stronger than ever.
The stopover was good to fix mechanical problems with the ships, resupply, regroup the crews and learn about other Flotilla initiatives. For example, the Sumud Global Parliamentary Congress held in Brussels with political leaders, humanitarians, legal experts and others from around the world to begin implementing the Brussels Declaration.
In addition, we received the good news that the “Sumud” land caravan from North Africa is still going and will last between 20 and 27 days. We will arrive by land and by sea! As a civilian, supportive and militant example, opposed to the complicity and inaction of governments in the face of genocide, ethnic cleansing and the occupation by the State of Israel of the territories of Palestine and Lebanon.
Dr. Raul Laguna told us:
“Just as we do not forget Argentina and denounce Milei’s visit to Israel, neither do we forget that here on April 25 we commemorate Liberation Day, since on that date in 1945 the partisan resistance launched the final insurrection against the fascist regime of Mussolini and the Nazi occupation, marking the beginning of the liberation of key cities such as Milan and Turin. We say never again, for yesterday and today. The ultra-right, be it Trump, Milei, Netanyahu or Meloni, brings humanity closer to the abyss of barbarism. That is why we are sailing in the flotilla to confront Netanyahu, the main exponent of a regime with fascist characteristics shared with Zionism. We will see where we are on May 1st, on International Workers’ Day, which for us is a very special date of struggle.
Departure from Augusta
An official statement of the GSF announced the departure from the port of Xiphonio, in Augusta, starting at 12:00 on Sunday, April 26, with Italian and Spanish ships; reaffirming the objective of breaking the blockade of Gaza, demanding respect for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and denouncing on all possible fronts the complicity of the international community; “building an international front capable of attacking the system of complicity that sustains the blockade: boycott, internal political pressure, union mobilization, general strikes and acts of non-violent civil disobedience. All these tools are being used as part of a common strategy to ensure respect for the peoples’ right to self-determination.” Let no one take their eyes off the Flotilla and Gaza.
