PALESTINIAN FISHERS ARE HIT HARD BY THE ISRAELI BLOCKADE ON GAZA. CREDIT: EMAD BADWAN/IPS.
First Published at IPS – By Eva Bartlett
Tag Archives: David Heap
David Heap and Ehab Lotayef on Voice of Palestine
David Heap and Ehab Lotayef interviewed on Voice of Palestine by Hanna Kawas
This week we talk with the two spokespersons for Gaza’s Ark here in Canada, David Heap and Ehab Lotayef, who update us on the project and what people here can do to help. We reached David in Italy where he is promoting the Ark project and then spoke with Ehab in Montreal.
Our final piece of music is by Lebanese singer Marcel Khalife, Walking Tall, and we dedicate it to the proud Gazan people who continue to walk tall and resist the Israeli occupation until they are able to live free and with dignity.
Download an audio file of today’s entire show to listen at home on your computer:
Pro-Palestinian march caps alternative world forum in Tunis
Pro-Palestinian march caps alternative world forum in Tunis
Published Saturday 30/03/2013 (updated) 31/03/2013 14:18
President of the Human Rights League of Tunisia (C) holds a Palestinian
flag during a protest on March 30, 2013 in Tunis. (AFP/Fethi Belaid)
flag during a protest on March 30, 2013 in Tunis. (AFP/Fethi Belaid)
TUNIS (AFP) — More than 15,000 people marched in central Tunis on Saturday chanting support for the Palestinian people, as a week-long anti-globalization forum wrapped up its first-ever meeting in an Arab country.
"Land, liberty, dignity," chanted the marchers as they made their way to the emblematic Habib Bourguiba Avenue — epicenter of the 2011 protests in Tunisia that sparked the Arab Spring in several Arab capitals.
The march on Saturday was organized to coincide with Land Day commemorations in Palestine and parts of Israel to mark the 1976 killing of six protesters demonstrating against Israeli plans to confiscate Palestinian land.
Tunisians, intl. activists commemorate Land Day, organize Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Human rights activists from 5 continents have gathered in Tunis to organize a new Freedom Flotilla which will break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza strip.
Courtesy of PressTV
Gaza’s Ark at the WSF 2013 – Photo display
Gaza's Ark was represented at the World Social Forum in Tunis from 26-30 March 2013. David Heap, Ehab Lotayef and Ann Wright from the Steering Committee presented Gaza's Ark and explained the mission that will attempt to break the Israeli blockade by sailing from Gaza while supporting Palestinian fishers and producers. See Mission Statement.
“Trade not aid” focus of new attempt to break Gaza blockade
27 March 2013
Israel continues to violate a ceasefire agreement signed in November which expanded the fishing limit off Gaza’s shores.
GAZA CITY (IPS) – “An ark is literally a large floating vessel designed to keep its passengers and cargo safe,” according to the group preparing Gaza’s Ark. But its is “a vessel that embodies hope that the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip can soon live in peace without the threat of the Israeli blockade.”
Now Gaza’s Ark Prepares to Dare Israel
By Eva Bartlett
Palestinian fishers are hit hard by the Israeli blockade on Gaza. Credit: Emad Badwan/IPS.
GAZA CITY, Mar 27 2013 (IPS) – “An ark is literally a large floating vessel designed to keep its passengers and cargo safe,” say the group preparing ‘Gaza’s Ark’. But their ark, they say, is “a vessel that embodies hope that the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip can soon live in peace without the threat of the Israeli blockade.”
An initiative by Palestinians in Gaza and international solidarity activists, Gaza’s Ark entails “purchasing a run-down boat from a local fishing family,” says Michael Coleman, a member of Free Gaza Australia and on the Gaza’s Ark steering committee.
Gaza’s Ark in the media
News by Timothy Bidon
Gaza’s Ark is a new project to refurbish a boat in Gaza’s port, then fill it with Palestinian goods, and set sail to export them in defiance of the Israeli blockade.
David Heap, spokesperson for Gaza’s Ark in Canada and Europe, told Peace News in late February, that the project, run by Palestinians and international solidarity activists, aims ‘to continue to challenge the inhuman, immoral blockade and to stand with the people of Gaza very concretely in their port, rebuilding the boat in a place where they can see… and continue to bear witness to the blockade which is kept in place by the complicity of our governments,’.
Palestine Solidarity Society buys Share in Hope
The Palestine Solidarity Society at the University of Essex, UK, now owns a Share in Hope. Gaza’s Ark is offering symbolic shares in the boat that is being bought and refurbished in Gaza. The boat will attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and will carry Palestinian exports.
David Heap, Gaza’s Ark steering committee member (second from the right), has made a short speaking tour in the UK to speak about Gaza’s Ark and muster support there. At his last stop at the University of Essex he spoke about “Sailing to and from Gaza for freedom of movement”. The event was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Society.
You can also purchase a Share in Hope to support Gaza's Ark. Find out how here.
Radio interview with David Heap on Gaza
Hear this radio interview of David Heap on Winnipeg CKUW 95.9 FM. He reviews current situation in Gaza.
http://ckuw.ca/128/20121128.16.00-17.00.mp3
Interview starts at about 3:20 minutes.
