[Peace] (no subject)

[Karen Medina via Peace]

Dear Peace,

AWARE has its own television show, "AWARE on the Air." This week's
episode caught me saying the following:

"International Freedom Day for Gaza 2014

"Many people criticize Palestinians for violent acts against Israel,
their violent oppressor. Those same people seem completely unaware of
all the peaceful demonstrations for Palestinian human rights.
Palestinians are often joined by human rights activists around the
world -- and I will note that many Israelis stand side by side with
the Palestinians -- in these peaceful demonstrations.  To point out
how little media coverage occurs here in the United States, I will
share the following story.

--
"Human rights activists have called for an International Freedom for
Gaza Day on May 31 to mark the fourth anniversary of the attack on the
Mavi Marmara.

"The Mavi Marmara was one of the ships carrying humanitarian aid to
Gaza as part of a flotilla of ships – all carrying very needed
humanitarian aid to Gaza – also with the intent to peacefully confront
Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The people on the ships included peace
activists and journalists from 37 countries around the world,
including a good friend of mine.

"The Israeli military boarding of the ship started at 2 am on May 31,
2010 and was completed by 8 am.

"Reports from journalists on the ship said that the Israeli military
opened fire with live rounds BEFORE boarding the ship. The United
Nations investigation into the incident concluded that these reports
were accurate and that the ship was attacked before it was boarded.

"The attack was made by the Israeli military in International waters.
The attack killed nine human rights activists -- the tenth died this
week after four years in a coma.

"International Freedom for Gaza Day will draw attention to the
continuing siege on Gaza. Events will take place in Gaza, Turkey, and
around the world.

"Israel claimed that it relatively eased the blockade for non-military
goods in June 2010, in direct response to the international outcry
about the attack on the flotilla. The Israeli NGO “Gisha Legal Center
for Freedom of Movement” asserted in a July 2010 report that Israel
continues to prevent normal functioning of the Gazan economy – an
Israeli group says that the blockade is still too restrictive. Israel
continues to severely restrict and/or prevent people from entering or
exiting Gaza according to Gisha. The United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) conducted an assessment
of the humanitarian impact of the easing of the blockage in January
and February 2011 and concluded that the easing did not result in a
significant improvement in Gazan people’s livelihoods.

"So, join the activities of International Freedom for Gaza Day on May
31. Provide peaceful pressure on the Israeli government to ease the
blockade on Gaza. Or at least read up on the issue – read material on
all sides -- read material by the Israeli government, by Israelis, by
groups like Jewish Voices for Peace, by people on the Mavi Marmara, by
Palestinians, and by the international presses."

-karen medina

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