As Israel bans 20 organizations working for justice for the Palestinian people, and after Sweden recognized the state of Palestine, the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition met in Gothenburg, Sweden on January 20-21, 2018 to discuss the 2018 Flotilla mission which aims to challenge and break the illegal and inhumane Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. Details of this year’s voyage will be made available in the spring of 2018.
Representatives from campaigns in Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and the International Committee on Breaking the Siege of Gaza were in Gothenburg for the Flotilla meeting, hosted by Ship to Gaza-Sweden.
In preparation for this year’s Flotilla mission, the international coalition is sponsoring a literary contest entitled “Keys to the Future of Palestine” related to particularly the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, to end the illegal blockade, for freedom of movement, the right of return and for justice for the Palestinian people (watch our website for further details).
Submissions are due March 1, 2018. One winner will be selected from submissions in each of the participating languages (Arabic, Spanish and English, at least). A jury for each language will be composed of persons from the literary and cultural world. Winning entries will be announced in the media, published on the FFC websites and other noteworthy places. The decisions of the juries will be announced on Palestinian Land Day, March 30, 2018.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Free Gaza Movement before it have sailed 31 boats to break the blockade of Gaza since 2008. In 2018 we again sail to break the illegal and inhumane blockade of Gaza, to demand full freedom of movement for all Palestinians, and to challenge the occupation of Palestine.
