Tag Archives: release
Release: Estelle crew were beaten during the attack
Estelle crew were beaten during the attack and by interrogators
Canadian Jim Manly still in detention
for immediate release
Montreal, 20121022 – 22h00
As Jim Manly, former Canadian MP (1980-88) and retired United Church Minister, continues to be detained in Israel with many of the other crew members of the Estelle, without any news about when he will be released. This despite freeing the Greek, Italian and Spanish citizens who were on the Estelle and the release of Israeli activists after being detained and charged.
Elik Elhanan, one of the Israelis released, said that excessive force and tasers were used against them and that a Greek MP was beaten by Shabak Security Service interrogators.
Free Gaza Australia: Israel attacks human rights activists in international waters – again

For immediate Release from Free Gaza Australia
Israel attacks human rights activists in international waters – again…
Sunday, 21 October, 2012 (6pm)
The Israeli military has once more attacked an unarmed sailing boat (Estelle) in international waters on Saturday 20 October (ESDST). The Estelle was in international waters, approximately 17 nautical miles north of Arish, Egypt. It was carrying a small amount of humanitarian aid, including basketballs, musical equipment and cement; an anchor for Gaza’s Ark; parliamentarians from five countries; and activists who were challenging the illegal naval blockade of 1.6 million people living in Gaza, Palestine. There have now been more than a dozen attempts to break the illegal naval blockade, with Sydney’s Michael Coleman experiencing the same unjustified aggression and detention when part of the Freedom Waves to Gaza in November 2011.
Israel attacks the Estelle in International Waters
Israel attacks the Estelle in International Waters
Kidnaps Parliamentarians and activists
for immediate release
Montreal, 20121020-04h30
Shortly after 4:00AM EDT when the Estelle was in international waters approx. 17 Nautical Miles north of Arish, Egypt (as per the last coordinates we have) Israeli war ships surrounded it and the assault on the peaceful ship started.
Communications were lost at that time and all reports we got from the ship were choppy.
Among others, the following individuals were on board:
Former Member of Parliament Manly James, Canada
Member of Parliament Hagen Aksel, Norway
Member of Parliament Britton Sven, Sweden
Member of Parliament Kodelas Dimitios, Greece
Member of Parliament Sixto Ricardo, Spain
Member of Parliament Diamantopoulos Evangelos, Greece
Full list of individuals onboard: http://shiptogaza.se/en/news/sailors-onboard-estelle
See Jim Manly’s pre-recorded video message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8egYBdf-Zo
Hear audio recording of interview with Jim Manly on the Estelle just hours before the attack:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12485019/JimManly-Estelle_interview_20121019.WAV
Our previous releases on the Estelle and Jim Manly can be found here:
http://www.gazaark.org/2012/10/16/release-a-world-parliament-on-its-way-to-gaza/
http://www.gazaark.org/category/statements-releases-2/
Contacts:
Jim Manly + 8707 76 727 941 (unfortunately Israel now blocked all communication to the ship)
See Jim Manly’s pre-recorded video message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8egYBdf-Zo
Eva Manly 250-616-3166
Ehab Lotayef 514-941-9792
Sandra Ruch 416-716-4010
Nino Pagliccia 604-831-9821
Gaza:
David Heap +972 59 289 3106
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Release: Will the UN support the siege?
Release 17 October 2012
Ship to Gaza Sweden
Israel’s UN ambassador Ron Prosor has sent a letter calling on the UN and other representatives of the international community to stop the Ship to Gaza sailing vessel Estelle from reaching its destination. If this means that Israel has decided to leave control over Palestinian territorial waters to the UN it is a fall forward.
The UN and many other representatives of the international community have for years characterized the siege of the Gaza Strip as inhuman and incompatible with international law.
Ship to Gaza Sweden assumes that that UN will not take over the implementation of this policy by preventing a peaceful vessel from delivering humanitarian supplies.
Ship to Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla have never opposed lawful inspections of cargo and vessel from representatives of the UN, or from national authorities in the ports and waters we have passed through and we welcome further inspections of this kind from the UN when we have anchored in Gaza City. What we refuse to accept is something which also the UN and the majority of the international community oppose: the illegal and, in a humanitarian perspective, devastating siege of the Gaza strip.
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Release: What is Estelle´s cargo to Gaza?
Release: 17 October 2012
No ship has undergone as many and as thorough inspections as Estelle has during the last couple of months. We have had several so-called Port State Controls.
Thousands of visitors with their own eyes have been able to assure themselves of what we are bringing in our cargo and that we ourselves are non-violent human rights activists.
Our cargo, loaded in ports along the journey, consists of things necessary for survival as well as things that make life more comfortable.
Release: A world parliament on its way to Gaza
World Parliamentarians sail to Gaza on the Estelle
For immediate release
16 October 2012
Today the Freedom Flotilla Coalition tall ship, The Estelle is on its way to Gaza carrying Parliamentarians from Greece (Vangelis Diamandopoulos), Norway (Aksel Hagen), Spain (Ricardo Sixto Iglesias) and Sweden (Sven Britton); and a retired Canadian Parliamentarian (Jim Manly – see his personal message below*). On the Estelle now are citizens of Canada, Finland, Greece, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
All on board the Estelle are peaceful civilians committed to non violence.
The Estelle carries a cargo of aid to the Israeli blockaded Palestinian population of Gaza, but above all it is carrying a cargo of solidarity.
It also carries an anchor and communication equipment needed for the construction of Gaza’s Ark. It is expected to reach Gaza by the weekend.
– 30 –
For more information or to speak to Jim Manly (Canadian retired MP) on board the Estelle, please call:
Ehab Lotayef 514-941-9792
Sandra Ruch 416-716-4010
Nino Pagliccia 604-831-9821
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Message from Jim Manly on board the Estelle sailing to Gaza
15 October 2012, 11AM PDT
Greetings to all of you and thank you for your many messages of encouragement and support. These mean a great deal to all of us on the Estelle as we sail toward Gaza.
I appreciate the dedication and commitment of all on board this boat. All of us are committed to non-violence and we are on this journey because of our commitment to the Palestinians of Gaza who are suffering because of this illegal blockade.
The whole history of the Flotilla Movement is a story of perseverance in our commitment to justice for Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere. The focus should not be on us – the focus should be on the people of Gaza who await our safe arrival. They are also waiting for the world to listen – to hear their side of the story, which is missing from the mainstream media. Please read and download the recent UN Gaza Report from here: http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=1423 .
When Eva and I were in Bethlehem in May we saw an image painted on the “Annexation Wall” which reads: “Now you have seen. You are responsible!” We take this responsibility seriously.”
As we approach the Sea of Gaza we are filled with hope. I look forward to delivering the anchor for Gaza’s Ark (video: http://www.gazaark.org/2012/10/15/video-jim-manly-will-deliver-a-canadian-anchor-to-gaza) . We carry humanitarian supplies. Our only “dangerous cargo” is a cargo of HOPE.
Please hold us and the people of Gaza in your thoughts, meditations and prayers.
Sincerely,
Jim Manly
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Press release on non violence training on the Estelle
Press release on non violence training
14 October 2012
All passengers and crew of M/S Estelle are prepared on the risk of illegal and violent boarding by the Israeli military in international waters, as happened in 2010. Everyone has gone through training in nonviolent behavior by the Swedish peace researcher Stellan Vinthagen, an experienced international trainer.
During the trainings everyone has signed a pledge to act peacefully also during risk of life, and they have learned the rules of conduct, joint decision making, done role-plays on arrest and interrogation to know how to act, and they have created affinity groups that are able to give everyone emotional support during a violent attack by the IDF.
People have made practical exercises in order to find creative ways of peacefully rejecting the boarding and at the same time calming down soldiers who are falsely told we are dangerous. We have studied videos on earlier boardings, and we have shared fears and hopes with each other.
Vancouver Press Conference: Retired MP Jim Manly departs to sail to Gaza
Media release
VANCOUVER, Oct. 3, 2012
When: 1:30 pm PST Wednesday October 3rd, 2012
Where: Vancouver Airport, International Departures; by Bill Reid’s Haida Canoe Sculpture
Former Canadian MP (Member of Parliament 1980-88) and retired United Church Minister Jim Manly (http://www.gazaark.org/2012/09/28/former-canadian-mp-sails-against-gaza-blockade/) will join a crew of prominent internationals on the Freedom Flotilla’s “Estelle” sailing from Naples to Gaza to peacefully challenge the illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade of Gaza.
He will be leaving from Vancouver airport for Naples today. There will be a press conference and gathering of his supporters on his departure.
Over 100 European Parliamentarians have signed a petition calling for an end to the Israeli Blockade of Gaza (http://upprop.shiptogaza.se/en).
The “Canadian Boat to Gaza”, member of the international “Freedom Flotilla Coalition”, is organizing Jim Manly’s mission while it is leading the effort in the Flotilla’s next project: Gaza’s Ark, building a boat in Gaza to carry Gaza exports challenging the blockade from the inside out.
Information:
Nino Pagliccia 604-831-9821
Irene MacInnes 604-737-1299
Ehab Lotayef 514-941-9792
info@gazaark.org
Spokesman for Ship to Gaza Attacked in Gothenburg
Gaza’s Ark is outraged by the attack on Dror Feiler and strongly condemns the use of violence against peaceful human rights activists.
http://www.shiptogaza.se/en/Pressrum/Pressmeddelanden/spokesman-ship-gaza-attacked-gothenburg
2012-07-28
Dror Feiler, a spokesman for Ship to Gaza, was attacked by unknown assailants on Friday night when he was on his way to the organization’s ship, Estelle, which is currently docked at Erikbergskaj in Gothenburg. The man or men attacked Feiler from behind, knocked him to the ground and kicked him several times before they left the scene. Feiler was able to get himself to Estelle, and then to a doctor, who found that no fractures had resulted from the assault.
Dror Feiler reported the assault to the police on Friday. He says in his statement about the incident:
“We in Ship to Gaza have been met with fantastic support during our trip along the whole of the Swedish coast, from Umeå to Gothenburg. Everywhere people have flocked to the ship and left donations for our work towards lifting the blockade on the people of the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately we have also been the target of threats in social media, threats which we obviously must take seriously. It is sad that voluntary work being done for human rights, peace and justice can arouse aggression in some people.”
Ship to Gaza’s schooner, Estelle, will be docked in Gothenburg until 1 August, when she will continue her 5000-nautical-mile voyage to Gaza with the goal of ending the blockade.
Ship to Gaza-Sweden
Spokespersons:
Dror Feiler: +46 702855777
Mattias Gardell: +46 703036666
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