Gaza / PNN - The Free Gaza movement is sending another solidarity ship to the Strip, due this time to the major Israeli attacks. The four previous voyages have set sail in solidarity to the million and a half residents under siege. The boat has set sail as of early Monday evening.Among the Free Gaza organizers is Eliza Ernshire who said, "We have calls for surgeons willing to go into Gaza and work there throughout this crisis. The doctors inside are exhausted and unable to cope with the number of wounded."
On board the ship expected to set sail on Monday are four physicians. Among them is Dr. Elena Theoharous, a surgeon and member of Cypriot parliament. Former United States Congresswoman and Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney will also be making the voyage. And local hero, Al Jazeera correspondent formerly imprisoned in Guantanamo, Sami Al Hajj, is also expected.
With the major military attack ongoing in the Gaza Strip in addition to the siege it remains to be seen if Israeli gunboats will stop the European ship. The Iranian Red Crescent ship that was expected to set sail on Friday, the day before the major Israeli assault began, was delayed ostensibly for 24 hours. The boat carrying a medical team and equipment was being rerouted from its landing point of the Gaza port to Egypt due to a lack of cooperation, as it was stated. The aid was going to be delivered overland through the Egyptian crossing with Rafah.
The Free Gaza movement, which intends to depart Cyprus at 5:00 pm today, writes, "We are not asking Israel for 'permission' to go, and we will not stop until the Dignity lands in Gaza. We are answering urgent calls from hospitals and health care workers in Gaza by taking in three physicians who will stay and work in Gaza for several weeks. We will hold Israel responsible for the safety of our passengers and our cargo of emergency medicine."
Even before the present Israeli blitzkrieg, Karen Koning Abu Zayd, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, asserted that, "Gaza is on the threshold of becoming the first territory to be intentionally reduced to a state of abject destitution, with the knowledge, acquiescence and - some would say - encouragement of the international community."