In the two boats, captains are Greek citizens in solidarity to the struggle of the Palestinian people and the attempts to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
In the Canadian boat “Tahrir” (meaning “liberation” in Arabic) with 12 passengers, among them one MEP and representatives of international media, captain is George Klontzas from Crete, already known from the first missions to Gaza in 2008.
In the other boat with 15 passengers, the Irish “Saoirse” (meaning “Freedom” in Irish), captain is Zacharias Stylianakis, also from Crete, and also participant in the May 2010 Freedom Flotilla mission, that was lethally attacked by the Israeli commandos. Captain Zacharias was on the Greek cargo ship “Eleftheri Mesogeios” (“Free Mediterranean”), the Greek-owned ship that is still illegally held in Haifa Port by Israel.
Our minds and hearts are with our 27 brothers and sisters in their difficult voyage. We wish full success to their mission!
Let’s all be on alert!
“Ship to Gaza - Greece” Initiative