Gaza Freedom Flotilla visits Cardiff / Caerdydd, Wales

VIDEO:

Actions, 2023 ‘For the Children of Gaza’ Flotilla, Cardiff, News, Ports / By alex

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is sailing to break the blockade of Gaza and denouncing our governments’ complicity in the occupation of Palestine!

Since 2008 solidarity activists have been trying to sail to the Gaza Strip, Palestine, to break the illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade. [Kia Ora Gaza is a member of the FFC]

This year the Freedom Flotilla is on a tour of European ports the raise awareness and support before sailing the FFC boat ‘Handala’ to Gaza again in July 2024.

Our boat is named Handala – after Naji Al-Ali’s famous cartoon image of a refugee Palestinian child, yearning to return to a free homeland, see: http://handala.org/handala/ for more.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip live under a devastating 16-year illegal land, air and sea blockade imposed by Israel. The impact of the blockade and Israel’s regular bombing campaigns are disastrous. They have destroyed and damaged homes, schools and hospitals, ruined essential services like healthcare and sanitation, and destroyed Gaza’s economy meaning Palestinians face poverty and unemployment.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continue to resist Israel’s brutal and inhumane blockade. They call on us to stand in solidarity with their struggle.

The Handala has been welcomed in many ports, including, Glasgow, Newport, and Liverpool. From Cardiff, she now heads to Bristol and Southhampton.

Thanks to the FFC, Cardiff PSC, PSC Montgomeryshire, Rhondda Cynon TAF PSC, Newport PSC, Abergavenny PSC.

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KIA ORA GAZA MISSION

Kia Ora Gaza is an Aotearoa/New Zealand network dedicated to support international efforts to break the inhumane and illegal Israeli siege and naval blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid, fostering fraternal relations, enhancing understanding of Palestine and the Middle East, and cooperating with others who have similar aims.

Kia Ora Gaza promotes human rights, and solidarity for the people of Palestine and their struggle for justice, peace and freedom.

Our website and facebook pages underscore and promote these goals, however posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Kia Ora Gaza or our partners.

All forms of racism and discrimination are the antithesis of justice, peace and freedom. Kia Ora Gaza social media will not tolerate any act or discourse which adopts or promotes, among others: racism, anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, sexism, xenophobia, or homophobia.

Kia Ora Gaza is a member of the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition - website: freedomflotilla.org and part of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa. Website: www.PSNA.nz

KIA ORA GAZA PROJECTS

Kia Ora Gaza was established from a series of public meetings to organise Kiwi participation in international efforts to end the siege of Gaza & promote practical solidarity for Palestine. This followed the Israeli commando raid on the Mavi Mamara-led peace flotilla in international waters in 2010 which resulted in the deaths of 10 civilian peace activists.
Since then Kia Ora Gaza has organised or supported the following projects:
1. Sent a team of 6 Kiwis on the 140-vehicle Viva Palestina international land convoy in 2010, driving and donating 3 ambulances to Gaza – part of the $7million medical aid delivered.
2. Supported Kiwi participant Harmeet Sooden to join the Canadian boat, Tahrir on Freedom Flotilla 2 to Gaza in 2011.
3. Sent a team of 4 Kiwis on the “Miles of Smiles” land convoy to Gaza with 10 tonnes of medical aid, 20124. Sent a fact-finding mission for www.kiaoragaza.net to Gaza Nov, 2012
5. Sent donations for food relief following the 2014 floods in Gaza
6. Co-organised nation-wide protests each weekend during Israel’s 50-day bombardment of Gaza in 2014
7. Transferred $25,000 to Gaza for urgent medical aid via Palestinian International Medical Aid in July 2014.
8. Sponsored an education project training young Palestinian journalists in Gaza 2015
9. Facilitated “NZ-Gaza twinning agreements” with a sports club and community centre in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza.
10. Co-sponsored 2 ambulances for Doctors Worldwide rehabilitation centre in Khan Younis (Israeli bombing in 2014 destroyed 26 ambulances in Gaza)
11. Maintains website: kiaoragaza.net and facebook pages.
12. Co-hosted the NZ Conference on Palestine, 2013 and 2016
13. Facilitated 2 Maori TV journalists on board the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza in 2015
14. Co-hosted NZ speaking tours including:
– Harry Fear (UK doco-maker) & Roger Fowler (Kia Ora Gaza) in 2013
– Jeff Halper (Director, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions) 2013
– Miko Peled (author) 2013
– Yousef Aljamal (Palestinian commentator) 2013
– Amira Hass (Israeli Journalist, Haaretz) 2015
– Samah Sabawi (Palestinian Writer) 2015
– Emad Burnat (Palestinian Film-maker) 2016
– Ali Abunimah (founder Electronic Intifada) 2016
– Rafeef Ziadah (Palestinian poet) April 2017
– Gideon Levy (Israeli journalist) 2017
– Huwaida Arraf (Palestinian lawyer) and Justine Sachs. 2018
-Dr Ramzy Baroud (US/Palestinian author) 2018
– Dr Salman Abu-Sitta (Palestinian author) 2019
15. Aug 2016 co-hosted special Auckland screening of Emad Burnat’s documentary ‘5 Broken Cameras’
16. Sept 2016. Transferred $6000 raised in our appeal to Palestinian doco-maker Emad Burnat towards a new camera.
17. Sept 2016 facilitated Green MP Marama Davidson to join Women’s Boat to Gaza peace flotilla.
18. Feb 2017 co-hosted film screening event: “The Idol”
19. April 2017, co-hosted three-city NZ tour with Palestinian performance poet Rafeef Ziadah and musician Phil Monsour.
20. May 2017 ‘Salt Water Challenge’ solidarity actions with Palestinian hunger strikers.
21. May 2017 transferred $1000 donation to Al Ahli Sports club in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, Gaza for football equipment.
22. July 2017 transferred our EURO1000 share to the FFC Gaza fishers project via MyCare Humanitarian Care Malaysia.
23. July 2017 transferred $1000 donation to Al Ahli Sports Club, Nuseirat Refugee Camp, Gaza.
24. Sept 2017 the Freedom Flotilla Coalition delivered fishing equipment as solidarity aid to 400 Gazan fishers via MyCare, Malaysia.
25. Kia Ora Gaza co-hosted a public lecture in Auckland on 3 December 2017, by renowned Haaretz journalist and writer, Gideon Levy.
26. January 2018, Kia Ora Gaza organiser, Roger Fowler, attends the Freedom Flotilla Coalition conference in Sweden to plan the 2018 international flotilla to break the illegal blockade of Gaza.
27. Co-organised Nationwide ‘Day of Action’ for Free Palestine on Sat 3 February 2018 demanding the release of all children held in Israeli prisons.
28. Co-hosted a public meeting at Auckland Uni with US/Palestinian writer Huwaida Arraf and Justine Sachs from Dayenu: NZ Jews against Occupation, March 2018.
29. Co-organised Auckland rallies in support of Palestinian March of Return, from April 2018.
30. Co-organised a five-city speaking tour with acclaimed US/Palestinian author, Dr Ramzy Baroud. May 2018.
31. Facilitated NZ participation in the 2018 Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. Selected veteran human rights campaigner and union leader, Mike Treen to represent NZ. Co-organised NZ speaking tour with Mike Treen.

32. The 2021 Kia Ora Gaza appeal for the ‘Miles of Smiles’ solidarity convoy of 37 ambulances and medical aid for Gaza raised $NZ35,000 to sponsor one ambulance together with our Freedom Flotilla Coalition partners. FFC has postponed the next flotilla until after Covid travel restrictions are lifted.

The ambulance the Kia Ora Gaza co-sponsored servicing the disabled community in Gaza.

CURRENT APPEALS

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is organising another international peace flotilla to challenge Israel's illegal 13 year naval blockade of Gaza and for a just future for Palestine - after the Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions have been lifted. For updates visit the FFC facebook page and website: freedomflotilla.org You can support NZ participation in this project by checking the options in the 'How to donate to Kia Ora Gaza' segment below. Appeal target: $40,000 to cover costs of our share of the purchase and upgrade of the flotilla boats, airfares and accommodation for our NZ participant.

HOW TO DONATE TO KIA ORA GAZA

Make a direct payment to our bank account: Kia Ora Gaza Trust, 03-0211-0447718-000, Westpac Bank, Onehunga branch. Afterwards, email office@kiaoragaza.net with your deposit details so we can send you an e-receipt.

The Kia Ora Gaza Trust is a Charitable Trust incorporated with the Companies Office under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. Registration number 2540065 NZBN Number: 9429043214167. However we are not registered with IRD for tax deduction purposes, as Kia Ora Gaza is deemed to be mainly an advocacy group.

FREEDOM FLOTILLA TO GAZA: DOCUMENTARY

A MaoriTV media team of senior journalist Ruwani Perera and award-winning, free-lance camera operator Jacob Bryant, returned home from reporting on the 2015 Freedom Flotilla III attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.

Facilitated by Kia Ora Gaza, the Native Affairs team joined other international journalists on the board the flotilla to observe and document the mission.

Thanks to all those who generously supported the Flotilla project.

Here are the links to their two part documentary.

PART 1

PART 2

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES

Global Peace & Justice Auckland: gpja.org.nz

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa: psna.nz

NZ Palestine Human Rights Campaign: palestine.org.nz

Dayenu: NZ Jews Against Occupation

Auckland Peace Action: aucklandpeaceaction.wordpress.com

Peace Action Wellington: peaceactionwellington.wordpress.com

Wellington Palestine: wellingtonpalestine.nz

Electronic Intifada: electronicintifada.net

Jewish Voice for Peace: jewishvoiceforpeace.org

Jews for Justice for Palestine: jfjfp.com

The Israeli Campaign Against House Demolitions: icahd.org

The Palestine Chronicle: palestinechronicle.com

Asia Pacific Report: asiapacificreport.nz

2018 Freedom Flotilla: jfp.freedomflotilla.org

Freedom Flotilla Coalition: freedomflotilla.org

KIWI AID TO GAZA

Kia Ora Gaza has raised funds for many humanitarian projects, including a contribution to 10 tonnes of medical aid on Miles of Smiles convoy in 2012, $3500 for Gaza flood relief in 2013, sponsored a special education project in 2015, supported Gaza fishers project 2017 (1000Euros). Over 100,000 Palestinians were injured and over 2,100 killed during Israel’s 2014 genocidal onslaught, and their illegal siege on Gaza left the medical services without basic supplies.

Kia Ora Gaza Trust launched an urgent appeal for funds towards humanitarian relief in war-ravaged Gaza, resulting in $25,000 urgent medical aid sent to Gaza in 2014.

KIA ORA GAZA HAS CO-SPONSORED SIX AMBULANCES FOR GAZA.

Kia Ora Gaza co-sponsored two ambulances for Doctors Worlwide Gaza in 2015.

Kia Ora Gaza also donated three ambulances packed with medical aid during the 'Lifeline to Gaza' international convoy in 2010. And in 2021 KOG sent $35,000 to co-sponsor one ambulance in the Miles of Smiles solidarity convoy of 37 ambulances in 2021.

In June 2012, Kia Ora Gaza sent a four-person team to Gaza as part of an international aid convoy. Our Kiwi convoyers were (from left) Roger Fowler, Tali Williams, Gibran Janif and Hone Fowler. This land convoy, which left from Cairo, delivered ten tonnes of urgently needed medical supplies to health authorities in Gaza. In November 2012 Kia Ora Gaza sent Roger Fowler on a fact-finding mission to Gaza (see his reports posted Nov-Dec 2012 on this website). UK documentary-maker Harry Fear joined Roger on a speaking tour of NZ on his return.

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