| On 31 May, events were held around the world to commemorate the killing by Israeli commandos of nine passengers on the Mavi Marmara. Passengers from the last flotilla spoke at a press conference held on the Mavi Marmara - Vangelis Pissias from Greece said that the Israeli regime did not have the right to stop the next flotilla, and called on ‘the whole world to oppose aggressive and unlawful actions of Israel." Another passenger from the last flotilla, Mohammed Zeidan, said he was touched by the pledges from the families of those killed to sail in the next flotilla. Following the press conference, tens of thousands marched through Turkey's central Taksim district, and were addressed by speakers including Cigdem Topcuoglu. Cigdem was with her husband Cetin on the Mavi Marmara when he died. Cetin was shot three times whilst trying to bring injured passengers inside the ship to be treated. In London, Israel's attack was remembered at a meeting in Conway Hall, addressed by passengers on the Mavi Marmara including Friends of Al-Aqsa's Ismail Patel and PSC's Sarah Colborne. These events commemorated the deaths of nine humanitarian aid workers, but also highlighted the impact that had been made by the first Freedom Flotilla. Israel's brutal and illegal attack on unarmed civilians in international waters shocked the world. It focused the world's attention on the criminal blockade on Gaza, and started to crack open the siege. And despite the best efforts of the Israeli government and programmes such as Panorama's ‘Death on the Med', survivors continue to bear witness to Israel's assault. The next flotilla is due to sail at the end of June, with representatives from over 100 countries on board. For more information and to pledge your support, visit www.britain2gaza.org |