by Eric Stoner and Bryan Farrell
November 2008 issue
When Israel began imposing economic sanctions and withholding taxes from the occupied territories in response to Hamas’s electoral victory over the ruling Fatah party two years ago, a group of human rights activists from around the globe gathered to discuss what they could do to ease the plight of the Palestinian people. The events of the next year, however, would be what truly informed their course of action.
Although the elections had been deemed free and fair by international monitors, the US moved to secure Israel’s position – according to a recent Vanity Fair exposé – by masterminding a Fatah coup attempt. But portions of the plan were leaked to a Jordanian newspaper and Hamas moved to preempt the overthrow by seizing total control of the Gaza Strip.
As retribution, Israel tightened the siege on Gaza by closing its borders and severely restricting the free flow of electricity, food, fuel, medicines, and other goods into the territory. This has led to the virtual collapse of Gaza’s economy, forcing its 1.5 million inhabitants to rely almost exclusively on international aid and live in what is regularly called the world’s largest “open-air prison.”
Given this dire situation, the activists decided to dub their group the “Free Gaza Movement,” and set their goal as breaking the siege of Gaza. They would accomplish this feat by sailing boats from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus to Gaza’s port, which no international vessel had freely entered or exited since 1967. After raising more than $250,000 by giving small presentations at churches, mosques and synagogues, and reaching out to family, friends, and supporters, they were finally ready to put their plans into motion last summer.
