- Title: Activist says flotilla carrying aid to Gaza will set sail 'very soon'
- Date: 19th April 2024
- Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (APRIL 19, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF THE SHIP AKDENIZ, WHICH WILL CARRY PASSENGERS AS PART OF FLOTILLA TAKING AID TO GAZA VARIOUS INTERIOR OF AKDENIZ / WORKERS PREPARING SHIP AHEAD OF DEPARTURE VARIOUS OF PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS FROM INTERNATIONAL NGOS GATHERED FOR PRESS CONFERENCE PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN ACTIVIST HUWAIDA ARRAF ARRIVING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST, HUWAIDA ARRAF, SAYING: "We, the people of conscience of the world, will not sit by as Israel deliberately starves over 2 million civilians. As Israel's siege is illegal, any attempt by Israel to attack our flotilla or to otherwise intercept or stop our ships will be unlawful. Our governments have thus far done nothing but we call on them to start now to uphold their own obligations under international law, to demand that Israel allows the flotilla safe passage to Gaza." VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE WATCHING PRESSER PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST AND RETIRED U.S. ARMY COLONEL AND DIPLOMAT, ANN WRIGHT, DURING PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST, ANN WRIGHT, SAYING: "The question is: 'The departure date was announced as the 21st of April. Is that going to hold?' We are evaluating all of the circumstances to include, making sure that all the facilities on their ship are ready to go, and evaluating the political condition here. At this point that we will sail. We will let you know exactly when that date will be - but it will be very soon." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING AS PRESS CONFERENCE ENDS VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF AKDENIZ ISTANBUL, TURKEY (APRIL 18, 2024) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS DRONE VIDEO OF AKDENIZ AT PORT IN ISTANBUL
- Embargoed: 3rd May 2024 12:10
- Keywords: AID FLOTILLA GAZA ISRAEL MAVI MARMARA PALESTINIAN TURKEY
- Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Middle East,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001644719042024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE SEE EDIT 6198-ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/FLOTILLA-PERSONAL FOR A PERSONAL STORY ON ONE OF THE ACTIVISTS THAT WILL SET SAIL WITH THE FLOTILLA
A flotilla of three ships that will carry aid to Gaza will depart 'very soon', the organisers said on Friday (April 19), as they called on world governments to pressure Israel to allow the ships safe passage.
The plan to send aid ships directly to Gaza has stirred memories of an attempt to breach a Gaza blockade in 2010, when 10 activists were killed by Israeli commandos in a raid on the Turkish "Mavi Marmara" ship.
Some of those on the fleet in 2010 will again set sail with the flotilla in coming weeks, including Palestinian-American human rights lawyer Huwaida Arraf and retired U.S. colonel and diplomat Ann Wright.
During a press conference aboard Akdeniz, the ship that will carry passengers, Wright said the evaluations and preparations on the ships were ongoing and that they will sail 'very soon'.
Arraf said it would be unlawful for Israel to intercept or stop the ships like in 2010, an incident which led to the collapse of relations between Israel and Turkey.
(Production: Bulent Usta, Ali Kucukgocmen) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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