An Irish Nobel laureate aboard the Free Gaza boat has urged Israel to enter talks, writes Michael Jansenin Gaza
ISRAEL YESTERDAY threatened to interdict the second mission of the Free Gaza movement which set sail from Cyprus with the aim of breaking the Israeli siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The movement's new boat, the SS Dignity, is carrying 28 peace activists, including Irish Nobel laureate Máiread Corrigan-Maguire. She endorsed the movement's initial two-boat voyage at the end of August.
"This little boat trip to Gaza is hugely symbolic. There are only a few of us but we represent millions of people around the world," Ms Corrigan-Maguire said.
"I am here today as a non-violent activist to go into Gaza to say to the Gazan people, we care about you, we care that the children are suffering . . . we are here to join in solidarity with you. We are also here to say to our Israeli brothers and sisters there is another way to solve this problem," said Ms Corrigan-Maguire.
She recommends dialogue and negotiation - the course adopted in Northern Ireland.
Ms Corrigan-Maguire was joint recipient of the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in an anti-violence campaign in Northern Ireland. She joined the campaign after three children of her sister were run over and killed by an IRA member making a getaway.
"The problem between Israel and Palestine will not be solved with militarism and can only be solved by all-inclusive unconditional dialogue between all parties involved. But since Israel is the occupier and the stronger party, it behoves it to move on peace initiatives," said Ms Corrigan-Maguire.
"You cannot talk peace and at the same time be demolishing homes, carrying out extrajudicial killings, and imposing a siege on Gaza, perpetrating tremendous suffering . . . I think the Israeli government has a responsibility to change things on the ground [in the West Bank], end the siege of Gaza . . . and begin to release prisoners."
The Palestinians also have a responsibility, she said. Hamas, which controls Gaza, should free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who has been held for two years, she said. Hamas should also enter into dialogue with Israel and with Fatah, which rules the West Bank.
Ms Corrigan-Maguire has not been to Gaza before but travels regularly to Jerusalem and the West Bank. In 2007, she was taken to hospital after being tear-gassed and shot with a rubber-coated ball bearing by Israeli troops.
Also on board the SS Dignityis Dr Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian legislature. "The people of Gaza must not feel abandoned by the West Bank," he said.
While in Gaza, he plans to promote dialogue between Hamas and Fatah. The SS Dignityis carrying a tonne of medical supplies unavailable in Gaza.