Support the Irish Ship To Gaza campaign

national | rights and freedoms | press release Wednesday September 01, 2010 16:11 by Kev - IPSC / ISTG IrishShiptoGaza at gmail dot com c/o Unit 5, 64 Dame St, Dublin 2

Funds needed urgently

Monday 30th August saw the official launch of the Irish Ship to Gaza campaign at a press conference in the Gresham Hotel. The campaign aims to maximise Irish participation in the Second Gaza Freedom Flotilla and hopes to see between up to 50 Irish people - including public figures, members of the Irish media and activists – on board the flotilla. The campaign needs to raise funds urgently to ensure it is a success and is calling on all supporters of the Palestinian people and their struggle for human rights to donate generously and to assist in this effort to break the illegal siege and bring much-needed aid and supplies to the people of Gaza.

Donate online via Paypal here: http://irishshiptogaza.org/?page_id=10
Donate to our bank account
Irish Ship To Gaza
AIB Bank
P.O. Box 96A, 7/12 Dame Street, Dublin 2
Sort Code: 93-20-86
Account Number: 33077059

The purpose of the flotilla is twofold: To peacefully breach the illegal and immoral Israeli blockade of Gaza that is causing terrible human suffering and to bring much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. This is a civil society to civil society project and the campaign is calling on people from all sectors of the Irish public to get involved and support this important act of solidarity.

The ongoing siege of Gaza has turned the region into an “open air prison”, to use the words of Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. It has placed a stranglehold upon the 1.5 million people who live there. Israel’s stated aim of the blockaded is to apply “pressure and sanctions” to weaken the economy of Gaza and to “put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger” - this can only be seen as unjust and inhumane. It is a clear violation of human rights, and the terms of this blockade breach international law. Gaza has no autonomous sea or air ports and thus has no independent access to the international community. Furthermore Gazans are not allowed to import or export on their own their own terms, and thus are unable rebuild their society and break the cycle of aid dependency.”

The following organisations have come together to form the Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign: Free Gaza Movement; Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign; Irish Anti-War Movement; Derry Friends of Palestine; Derry/Tyrone to Gaza; Palestinian Rights Institute; and Trade Union Friends of Palestine. The Second Gaza Freedom Flotilla, of between 12 – 15 ships, is due set sail in October 2010.

Donate online via Paypal here: http://irishshiptogaza.org/?page_id=10
Donate to our bank account
Irish Ship To Gaza
AIB Bank
P.O. Box 96A, 7/12 Dame Street, Dublin 2
Sort Code: 93-20-86
Account Number: 33077059