In this urgent and timely episode, I am joined by Mary, the national lead for the UK delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Mary provides a direct update on the recent drone strike against one of the ships and shares the core objectives of this nonviolent humanitarian mission. 

We discuss the international legal context surrounding the flotilla, the historical significance of this action, and why ordinary citizens are stepping up where governments have failed.  This conversation is a crucial resource for understanding what is happening at sea and how we, as a global community, can support the call to end the siege on Gaza.

Key Takeaways:

A Nonviolent Mission: The flotilla is an unarmed, nonviolent, citizen-led mission with three clear aims: to break the illegal siege of Gaza, open a humanitarian corridor for aid, and call for an end to the genocide. 

• Government Inaction: The mission is a direct response to the inaction of world governments to uphold international law and protect civilian life in Gaza. 

• The Power of Ordinary People: The flotilla is comprised of ordinary citizens from around the world, including builders, nurses, and accountants, who are putting their bodies on the line to stand for our collective humanity. 

  Upholding International Law: The naval blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza is unlawful. The flotilla operates with the legal right to deliver aid to a starving population, challenging the dangerous precedent set by ignoring international maritime laws. 

  
  

Episode highlights:

• 02:41 : Mary provides an update on the drone strike that hit the family ship.

• 05:41 : An outline of the flotilla's three main objectives.

• 13:46 : The historical context of this flotilla as a continuum of an 18-year maritime effort to break the siege. 9

  19:25 : A breakdown of the international legal right for this humanitarian mission to sail to Gaza.

  30:35 : Mary details the tangible actions listeners can take to support the mission from home.

About the guest: Mary is the national lead for the UK delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla. She has been involved in work around Palestine for many years. 

• Website: ⁠Freedom Flotilla Coalition⁠

• Instagram: ⁠@‌freedomflotilla⁠

• Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)

  
  

Connect with Megan:

Instagram: ⁠@‌HigherLove_withMegan⁠

Website: ⁠www.higher-love.com⁠

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk)

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review.