'Women's boat to Gaza' , direct action against the blockade of Gaza.

                    
                         The Marianne of Gothenburg preparing to set sail for Gaza, June 2015.                                                    
The Women’s Boat to Gaza (WBG) is a Freedom Flotilla Coalition initiative.By launching a women’s boat, women from all over the world aim to highlight the undeniable contributions and indomitable spirit of Palestinian women who have been central within the Palestinian struggle in Gaza, the West Bank, inside the Green Line and in the diaspora.Women in Gaza often fill the role of caring for and sustaining life of struggle and dignity. Among the rubble of demolished houses, women in Gaza gather the remains of household goods, a broken stool, a dented pan, sometimes a bottle or a school notebook… and rebuild it -they know how to rebuild because they have had to learn. They bake bread and rice every day and console their children when they cry every night because they fear the planes will return. Gaza women are bastions of resistance and life. They do not allow their spirits to be destroyed, in spite of ongoing devastation.Palestinian women are an inspiration and an example for us , women and men who dream of a better world, it is important to make their voices heard, even more so during periods of extreme injustice.
Gaza has been under Israeli blockade for the past decade, during which time Israel has also launched countless attacks against the besieged population, turning their life into a nightmare and a continuous struggle.The Israeli occupation consistently both violates International Law and disregards UN Resolutions with impunity. A United Nations report states that Gaza will be uninhabitable by 2020. Homes, schools and hospitals have been destroyed. 97% of water is not drinkable and electricity is reduced to a few hours per day. Through Freedom Flotillas and other naval missions, we have brought international attention to their suffering and their resistance.

The WBG seeks not only to challenge the Israeli blockade, but to also show solidarity and bring a message of hope to the Palestinian people.The Women’s Boat to Gaza will set sail mid-September of this year and plans to dock at a number of Mediterranean ports along its route and arrive Gaza on October the 1st. The FFC’s fourth mission (FF4) will be sailed by an all women crew and will carry aboard, notable women from all over the world in order to highlight the undeniable contributions which have been made by Palestinian women to the resistance movement. Confirmed delegates who will be on the Flotilla include; Nobel Laureate (1976) and peace activist from Northern Ireland, Mairead Maguire and Green Party New Zealand Member of Parliament Marama Davidson. Further delegates will be announced in the coming weeks.

Part of their goal is to highlight this struggle and the devastating effects it has had on women, often left alone, sifting through rubble to take care of their families when their husbands are imprisoned or murdered. To stand with these brave and resilient women, so will be sending the  Women's Boat to Gaza to let them know they are not alone.The flotilla is not only aimed at breaking the siege but also at bringing hope to the Palestinian people with the support and endorsement of civil society institutions, women's and human right's organizations and international activists from all over the world. let's hope they achieve their goals
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has asked for the support of members of the European Parliament for the Women’s Boat to Gaza and will seek assurances from all governments that they will protect and not obstruct its peaceful mission of solidarity to the besieged Palestinian people of Gaza.
 
Please visit: www.womensboattogaza.org     for more information