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Zaytouna-Oliva leaves Ajaccio, Corsica for Messina, Italy - its final European port before sailing to break the illegal blockade of Gaza

Posted in Other News

For Immediate Release
20 September 2016

Ajaccio, Corsica, France: The Women’s Boat to Gaza (Zaytouna-Oliva) left the port of Ajaccio at 09:30 this morning. It is due to arrive later this week in Messina, Sicily, Italy, where it will dock for the last time, prior to sailing to challenge the illegal blockade of Gaza.

One of the participants aboard, Lisa Gay Hamilton said: “It is an honor to be here and join this extraordinary group of women. This issue is bigger than me, than any of us. As a mother, as a daughter, as a sister, I cannot help thinking of Palestinian women in Gaza, who live in an open-air prison because of the occupation. It is so painful to think of them, we have to take action to end the blockade of Gaza.” A full list of the participants on this leg is available at: https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/participants.

Palmira Manusco, one of the local organisers in Messina said: “We are very pleased to host the women on Zaytouna-Oliva before they embark on this historic voyage.” During their stay in Messina, all of the women will participate in non-violence training, whilst finalising supplies and equipment for the boat.

A previous Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, the Marianne av Göteborg from Sweden, departed from Sicily last year. It however was raided in international waters by the Israeli Occupation Forces. When asked whether the Zaytouna-Oliva will reach its destination, Manusco replied: “Our destination remains the conscience of humanity. It is up to every one of us to help them succeed in this.”

The Women’s Boat to Gaza is an initiative of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition composed of civil society organizations and campaigns from more than a dozen countries.

For more information: Freedom Flotilla Italy
LOCAL COORDINATION: Lucia Intruglio Tel. +3687468528 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PRESS CONTACT: Palmira Mancuso Tel. +3453406333 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
GENERAL CONTACT: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.freedomflotilla.it/ or for general information visit www.womensboattogaza.org