Statement from Omar Al Mokhtar Flotilla

Flotilla Delayed due to some logistical problems waiting on more information

More Images of the Human Rights Activists getting ready

A committee of security leaders, senior officers and officials of Libya, visited the ship Omar Al-Mukhtar on Monday morning to complete the security and safety inspection procedures, and check the nature of the ship’s contents, the security officials and customs officials assured that the list of contents of the ship is completely safe and contains only shipments of humanitarian, medical and relief aid, the Security Authority said The Libyan national inspects the ship and confirms its compliance with the specifications of maritime safety and safety. The Passport Department is taking over the exit procedures for the active passengers on the ship in preparation for its sailing

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/11/4/jewish-academic-arrested-in-uk-over-terrorism-after-gaza-speech?traffic_source=rss

GPHRC statement: Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign sends its wholehearted support and best wishes to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition @GazaFFlotilla as it sails in a valiant attempt to #BreakTheSiege of Gaza. The Flotilla will be seeking to breach Israel’s illegal and inhumane blockade, deliver vital aid, and assist the bombed and starving people of Gaza. This courageous voyage of humanity will be navigating waters that saw Israeli forces storm the Mavi Marmara aid ship in 2010, killing ten volunteers and injuring many more. Our fears for the Flotilla in international waters are heightened by the dangers it faces in trying to land its 5500 tonne cargo, given Israel’s already savage killing of over two hundred aid workers in Gaza. Israel has wilfully ignored recent International Court of Justice findings of a “plausible” genocide, and the court’s further ruling that Israel must stop blocking aid. This is why the world, and all truth-telling media, must be extra vigilant in observing and protecting the Flotilla throughout its hazardous journey. Amongst the hundreds of admirable international volunteers and human rights monitors aboard will be Margaret Pacetta, representing Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign, which is part of GGEC. We wish all the Flotilla participants safe passage and successful delivery of their crucial cargo. Solidarity from Scotland with the Freedom Flotilla and all the people of Palestine. 

Hundreds of participants are getting ready to get on board to deliver aid and challenge the siege of Gaza. Your attention and support will ensure they succeed and help keep them safe.

Statement on CoFIS/GFI and SUTR

/ Statements / By GGEC Admin

Throughout its existence, the Confederation of Friends of Israel (Scotland) (CoFIS) and its associate Glasgow Friends of Israel (GFI) have supported, promoted, and protected the state of Israel.

Supporting Israel means supporting all actions of Israel including but not limited to it’s historic crimes, illegal occupation, illegal settlements, apartheid state, ethnic cleansing, and genocidal killing of the Palestinian people.

CoFIS/GFI is understood to reject and deny:

• The Nakba as the primary catastrophe, displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

• UN resolutions in support of Palestinian rights, notably the Palestinian right of return (GA 194), and withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Occupied Territories (UNSCR 242).

• All internationally informed opinion that Israel is an occupier state engaged in building, maintaining, and extending illegal settlements across the West Bank.

• That Israel is an apartheid state, as confirmed by Amnesty International and other leading human rights groups.

• That Israel has maintained an illegal siege over Gaza.

• That Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza, as detailed by South Africa before the International Court of Justice.

CoFIS/GFI pro-Israel Lobby

As part of the pro-Israel lobby in Scotland, CoFIS/GFI state that they are, ‘Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestinian’, Pro-Peace’, yet appear to blame Palestinians at large for their ‘self-inflicted’ suffering, while also denying that Palestine has ever existed.

CoFIS/GFI support right-wing bodies, Stand with Us and Christians United for Israel by dispensing their literature at street stalls.

Their social media postings denigrate protests for Gaza and against genocide as ‘hate marches’ motivated by antisemitism.

For all these reasons, GGEC view CoFIS/GFI as a deeply hostile entity that must be challenged and exposed as a supporter of Israel and all its crimes.

GGEC position regarding CoFIS/GFI and SUTR

As one of the leading bodies of Palestinian solidarity and support groups in Scotland, GGEC has consistently urged all political parties, politicians, trade unions, and other civil organisations to denounce the genocide and demonstrate their clear support for the people of Palestine.

We must therefore hold any and all professed anti-racism bodies to the same set of standards and expectations.

This is why we must call out the actions of anti-racism organisations who associate with CoFIS/GFI.

• For the past six years, CoFIS/GFI have been allowed to take part in the annual Stand Up to Racism (Scotland) (SUTR) march.

• Despite repeated appeals by pro-Palestinian and aligned bodies to prevent CoFIS/GFI’s participation in this event, SUTR has consistently refused to act on this matter.

• SUTR has shown no proactive effort to challenge, campaign against, or expose CoFIS/GFI.

• SUTR has sought to excuse this position by claiming it has ‘no policy on the Middle East’.

• Five months into the genocide and destruction of Gaza, SUTR has made no statement on the genocide, nor declared any form of support for the Palestinians.

For all the aforementioned reasons, GGEC asks that organisations stand with us:

• In boycotting the SUTR ‘anti-racism’ march on the 16th of March this year or any other year.

• In stating their position clearly in condemning SUTR and their lack of action regarding CoFIS/GFI.

• In holding fast to the position that SUTR marches and events that include CoFIS/GFI are contributing to the normalisation of Israel’s apartheid regime and genocidal crimes.

The Israeli Embassy in London has posted a vacancy for a new ‘Scotland Affairs Officer’. https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/organisations/embassy-israel/jobs/israel-scotland-affairs-officer-348158 Duties for this ‘outreach ambassador’ will include ‘‘cultivat[ing] relationships with various target audiences”, including the Scottish Parliament and other key political, religious, academic, media and civil institutions. Contrary to its ‘job description’, the real, deceitful purpose of this posting couldn’t be more obvious. The true remit will involve helping to extend the Israeli regime’s influence across such fields and platforms in a rearguard effort to stem its rapidly failing ‘reputation’ in Scotland. Not coincidentally, the Embassy appointment comes in the wake of the recent damning Amnesty report formally castigating Israel as an apartheid state. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2022/02/israels-system-of-apartheid/ It also signals the deepening inability of pro-Israel lobby groups and their political allies in Scotland to whitewash and disguise the regime’s mass crimes against occupied and besieged Palestinians, in order to stem Israel’s growing pariah status. If all major human rights organisations now concur with every Palestinian civil society body that Israel is practicing systematic racism, what’s preventing any ‘progressive’ parliament, institution or supposedly ‘anti-racist’ campaign group in Scotland from openly denouncing those same racist-supporting bodies and Embassy ‘ambassadors’? Alas, unlike rising public criticism of Israel across Scottish society, it is lamentably clear that the Scottish Government itself have been severely complicit in failing to challenge Israel and its apartheid apparatus. It’s unconditional acceptance of the deeply-troubling IHRA agenda on weaponised antisemitism is a crucial case in point. Which is why we are now seeing a concerted international rejection of this mendaciously-crafted document. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/04/human-rights-and-other-civil-society-groups-urge-united-nations-respect-human It is hoped that all moral-standing MSPs and other leading figures in Scotland will intensify their efforts to contest this pernicious legislation, call-out Israel’s latest hasbara project, and expose its new apartheid ambassador at every opportunity. Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign October 2023

Great turnout for the Stop the Massacres in Jenin Demonstration great speakers including Sandra White ex SNP MSP and many others

We got woken up just before 5am with screaming get on deck, get on deck immediately.  The boats engines had flooded because of the bad weather and overheated

We were like a cork in a tornado storm 

Water was coming over the side as if it was flooding the deck, running downstairs, soaking everything, doors ripped off, things flying off wall.   It was very bad. As soon as we got on deck it was lifejackets etc on immediately.  Time for swim in ocean we thought.  We were still at sea and far enough we couldn’t contact anyone to help.   Thank god one of the Norwegians phone eventually got thro to coastguard and asking for help.  They kept in touch and gave advice how to help us re starting engine.    Eventually it worked so back on track for Liverpool.  We will all be kissing the ground when we get back.  Coastguards are constantly in touch

At this point we can actually see Liverpool. Thank god.   Still haven’t found the swimming pool or jacuzzi yet

The people on this flotilla are amazing and I cannot thank them enough for all their hard work.  They do 4 hour shifts right thro the day and night.  The engines packing in was obviously not planned.  It was described that the boat was like a cork in a hurricane.  Being tossed and turned over