Desk Report:
Israel has seized all the ships of the international aid flotilla ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ sailing towards Gaza in Palestine. However, another ship ‘Conscience’ is continuing its mission from a different location from those ships. Bangladeshi photographer and Drik Managing Director Shahidul Alam gave this information in a video message on Facebook on Friday afternoon. He is staying on the ship and is regularly updating.
However, shortly after publishing his message, it was reported that the last ship of the Sumud Flotilla was also seized by Israeli forces.
In the video message, Shahidul Alam said that their journey was strategically different from the other ships of the Sumud Flotilla, so that they could move forward even if the main fleet was obstructed. He confirmed that Israel has already seized all the ships of the Sumud Flotilla.
Shahidul Alam said that their ship is the largest in the fleet and eight other smaller boats had sailed before. He said, ‘We have 9 vehicles free at the moment. Today we have entered the Palestinian time zone. From now on, this ship will be the first. This shows that the anger will fall on us. But we are absolutely committed, we will go all the way to Gaza and will not accept any obstacles.’
Shahidul Alam made it clear that the main purpose of their mission is not to provide relief, but to break the illegal blockade imposed by Israel.
He said, ‘We are not going for relief. We are going with that purpose to break an illegal blockade.’ He said that there are many journalists, doctors and other workers on the ship. This is not an excuse to provide relief, but to fight for the right of Palestinians to live and go.
Shahidul Alam protested the killing of journalists and doctors in Gaza. He said, ‘Last night, 14 doctors from Médecins Sans Frontières (MAF) were killed. We will see what France does about it.’ He also mentioned that when leaders of different countries commit ‘betrayal’, they want to do it as citizens.
In the video caption, he said that there are a total of 96 people on their ship. Of these, 82 are media workers and doctors.
Shahidul Alam said that the sea situation was bad yesterday but is calm today, ‘But now we are fully recovered and ready for the fight.’ In the video caption, he declared, ‘We will win, Palestine will be free.’
