Aktivis Tegaskan Tetap Komitmen Meski Flotila Gaza Dihentikan Israel

Ajouté : 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]So, it's obviously heightened emotions, but everybody that is on board these vessels are fully committed to the mission. The mission is uh to bring all eyes to Gaza, all eyes to Palestine, and now all eyes to our brothers and sisters in Lebanon.

[00:00:15]These missions have been going um since 2008. They are a combination of over 18 global coalitions with civilians from countries around the world. We have every NATO nation on Earth represented on these boats.

[00:00:29]Uh though the emotions are high, understandably, we are being pursued by um the occupation violent forces of a, by definition, terrorist state. We are also very calm um as we are well trained. We are um steadfast in why we know we are here and believe we are here. We are a crew that has been living the very small sailboat for many weeks with each other.

[00:00:55]Um so, we are all very, very comfortable with each other. Um we're a team that communicates well. We have daily meetings. In those meetings, we make sure that we go over group exercises so that in high-stress scenarios like this, nerves remain calm and the team continues to function well as a team. We are trained very, very extensively in de-escalation, uh in anti-violence. We are a nonviolent movement and a nonviolent collective. Uh when we are and if we are boarded by Israeli occupation forces troops, we will respond to questions we are legally required to respond to. Should this be a legal interception, which it's not, when they intercept these boats, it is breaking maritime law and international law. But, if they ask us for our name or our country of residence, we'll be happy to tell them that. But, other than that, the only thing they will be hearing from us is that we would like to speak to our legal representation. My only regret is that um I wish I was on these ships sooner.

[00:01:59]For 2 and 1/2 years, we have watched Palestinians teach the world what bravery and courage and honor and dignity and family and community looks like. But, the crimes committed against Palestinians by their occupier, the Israelis, is nowhere near a mere 2 and 1/2 years old. I would try this again if we got kidnapped today and I was back in Canada, my home country. I'm very grateful to live on the lands of um and I was able to leave my front door the next day, I would leave the next day to try this again. Civilians of this world are never going to stop fighting for our brothers and sisters that are in Palestine, in Lebanon. Um our brothers and sisters in Yemen who have been one of the most courageous voices, especially of the outer world. I will I will always keep trying. I won't be intimidated by threats. I will say the inside scoop is that um because, of course, I am uh years-long running activist, um all of my friends are uh morally on the same grounds as me.

[00:03:07]They're politically literate in the same ways that I am. So, at first, it was overwhelming support. However, as it got closer to the time leaving, and it happened like very, very quickly, um I had 1 day and I was warned by um a really brilliant activist who had been on the last round of ships that a day would come where suddenly all your nearest and dearest decided it was a really terrible idea.

[00:03:31]Um and I I had exactly that day. I woke up one day and all the same voices that were like, "Yes, power to the people. We are with you. What can we do to help?" I woke up one day and suddenly all of them called me at varying points in the day and didn't realize they were accidentally giving me the exact same script. So, clearly, they had gotten together and had a little chat only based on worry of my welfare. These are very good friends.

[00:03:58]They're comrades. They're people that I share every meal during iftar with. They're people that I babysit their kids. We're community and we're family. I know that there has been a large amount of debate and even from minds that we deeply respect and voices that we cherish and love like Francesca Albanese. She's the UN special rapporteur for Gaza and the West Bank.

[00:04:21]And these are voices that we love and we look up to and everything that they say is a learning moment.

[00:04:28]What we would say is that any single thing, any action that is an action towards more eyes on Palestine, that is highlighting the way that Israel continues to violate international law, is is a is a positive thing. We're not heroes on these boats.

[00:04:46]We're we're not special. We're everyday civilians. And everyday civilians um have have nothing but opportunity. They have power in their hands. The power is with the people. Even if it comes down to where you choose to spend your dollars as a consumer.