The New Dark Age

[This is a combined update of mail that I received this am from Gaza Friends. Ed]

UPDATE on Free Gaza’s Emergency Voyage to Gaza

Dear Friends of Gaza,

The Free Gaza mercy ship, SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, left port in Cyprus this morning on an emergency mission to besieged Gaza. Aboard the ship are desperately needed medical supplies and 21 passengers and crew, including doctors, human rights workers, journalists, and two parliamentarians from Spain and Italy.

We’ve just received word from the ship (as of 3:15am UST / 1:15am GMT) that they are surrounded by Israeli Naval gunboats. The warships are demanding that the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY return to Cyprus. We are insisting to reach Gaza and complete our peaceful mission.

The Israelis have not yet attacked our unarmed ship, but it is URGENT that everyone immediately CALL the Israeli government and demand that they STOP threatening the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY!

CALL
Mark Regev in the Prime Minister’s office:
+972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il

Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence:
+972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il

The Israeli Navy Spokesperson:
+ 972 5 781 86248

All,
The last 45 minutes the Spirit of Humanity is surrounded by Israeli gunboats, 100 miles away of Gaza port, into international waters. The Israelis ask the boat return to Larnaca. The boat continues its trip towards Gaza port.
 
Takis

Hi Everyone,

I talked with Huwaida several hours ago. The first hours of the
journey were very slow, less than 6 knots an hour due to heavy winds (15 to 20 knots) and high seas. By about 11 pm or so they were making about 8 knots an hour. They anticipate that they’ll arrive at the 20 mile mark off Gaza at about 1 pm, today, Thursday, January 15. So they’ll arrive in Gaza during daylight hours.

The satellite phone was working so Huwaida and I were able to communicate well on the satellite phone. If you look at the satellite tracking system on the website, it looks as if they are in international waters off Saida in Southern Lebanon so they are nearing international waters off Israel.

Stay tuned.

Karin in Cyprus