Gaza Flotilla - genuine peace activists or Hamas puppets?

[TicklishMauveSquid]

It has been reported that these activists have rejected the Italian government and the Vatican's proposal to unload any aid they are carrying in Cyprus, to be transferred peacefully to Gaza.

They seem intent on sailing into a legal blockade in a warzone as a direct provocation to Israel who will be forced to take control of 50 boats and the people on them.

They have made lots of unproven allegations that Israel has attacked their boats which may well be to precursor violent resistance in 'self defence'.

They could be carrying anything, including weapons.

There is quite compelling evidence of Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood connections to this so called humanitarian flotilla, which could be considered perverse in the extreme seeing as Hamas has caused the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

https://govextra.gov.il/mda/march-to-gaza/the-hidden-networks-behind-the-global-sumud-flotilla

Hundreds of Israeli boat owners are being encouraged to counter protest in Navy approved zones (without interfering) as a presence 'a blue and white wall for the hostages'.

What do we think the outcome of this will be with Italian and Spanish Navy vessels in the mix?

This is quite a different situation than the ONE boat in the earlier failed attempt to breach the blockade this year where the 'activists' were peacefully appeased with sandwiches and sent on their way (after refusing to watch footage of Oct 7th).

You assume that propaganda is aimed solely at a western audience.

I'm failing to see the relevance.

Why is anyone upset at the attempt- successful or otherwise to try and get aid to a starving population? Some people are actual psychos.

Yes, I'm sure you are.

It’s a sad day for humanity when people will scramble for reasons to discredit those who are risking their lives to carry aid to people who are at risk of famine.

Greta and her crew could be the biggest bunch of narcissists in the world for all I care. They are still doing the right thing, the thing that our governments have shamefully failed to do.

Did you even read the OP?

They were given the opportunity by the Italian Government/Pope to offload the humanitarian aid in Cyprus where it would be safely delivered to Gaza?

Israel agreed to that plan, the flotilla didn’t. This is about publicly, (as if we need more about this one war), it is NOT just about delivering humanitarian aid.

'Deliver the aid'. Have you wondered at all what that even means? Who to? The first random person they bump into? Hamas? The amount of aid they have is tiny, less than a drop in the ocean & they have no distribution system. Even people on your own side have admitted its 'symbolic'.

Ask anyone who actually has experience of aid distribution & they will tell you, there is no place for random do-gooders on the ground, especially in a war zone.

Who is defending it? I’m certainly not. I just don’t think Greta Thunberg is the answer.

This!

Yes, it should be the governments of the world who step in immediately to stop a famine from even starting.

But they didn’t, did they? So it’s up to random do-gooders.

Please could you talk me through how this going to be an effective way to distribute aid?
How much is there? How will it be distributed? Do they have transport or will they just offload it to the first person they meet when they dock? How do they stop the people they give it to selling it at vastly inflated prices? What protection do they have against looting? Or have Hamas organised a reception committee & protection for them? Maybe those helpful chaps have got their smart uniforms pressed and ready?

The amount of aid they are carrying must be tiny as they need to have all their own supplies including for the return journey.

Yes it's about time Hamas got to wear their uniforms again, we haven't seen them for a while. Not since the last hostage release show, I think.

But @SharonEllis I think Greta and co will be assuming they will get free flights home again like last time. I think the IDF should just calmly remove the humanitarian aid from the boats this time and leave the crew on board.

Get some publicity out of delivering it and request that they come back in a few weeks time with some more aid.

Its so ridiculous. What a waste of everyone's time.

The blockade is illegal. It cannot allow the blocking of humanitarian aid. The entire point of the flotillas is to bring attention to Israel’s illegal acts. Having the aid distributed (which yes, is a symbolic amount), would defeat the entire purpose.

So for the mission to be successful the aid has to not be distributed?

That's a new one! I thought the brave flotilla was stepping in where evil governments had failed. But no, it really IS entirely performative.

Explain it to me so.

I think they're really brave

I think you and @SharonEllis are being deliberately obtuse here, so I will spell it out for you in simple terms.

Under the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994), a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met:

• it must be formally declared and publicly notified
• it must be effectively enforced in practice
• it must be applied impartially to all ships
• it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines
• it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.

Thus, the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza is illegal under point 5 - the purpose of the blockade is to stop the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Yes, the amounts of aid being carried are symbolic, because it would simply be impossible for anyone other than a coordinated effort of multiple governments to deliver the level of aid needed into Gaza at this point.

The flotillas are instead highlighting how Israel are breaking international law. The point of the flotilla is to show this. Israel is using its naval blockade to prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. The fact that there was an offer from the church to distribute it is immaterial, as this would not involve the lifting of the blockade.

Again: the point of the flotilla is to highlight Israel's constant violations of international law.

This is the link to the 1994 manual, btw, for some reason it won't allow me to embed it - https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/san-remo-manual-1994

You are absolutely right it’s not just about delivery aid. It’s showing innocent civilians in Gaza that the world has not forgotten them. It’s showing the current Israeli Government and those operating a supremacist policy, that the world knows about and disagrees with their policy and genocide.

What a stupid question honestly

No we are not being obtuse. Perhaps you havent read the comments on this thread and on others. There are people who genuinely believe the aid is meaningful and delivering it is important.

It is refreshing to have someone adnitting its just a gesture. thank you.

You think its a worthwhile gesture. I thinks its pointless, narcissistic and a waste of time & resources.

And I think the people involved are far too close to Hamas and other extremists and should not be indulged.