Freedom Flotilla 2 includes a American boat with 34 people on board

Islam Times correspondent in Gaza said that the American "New York Times" mentioned today that the U.S. boat bears the name of "the power of hope," adapted from President Barack Obama’s book. The times quoted the coordinator of the American boat “Leslie Kagan” that the choice of the name holds a certain meaning.

Kagan said that the boat will carry messages from the Americans to the Palestinians, not aid, and that a quarter of the people on board are Jewish. Among the crew, a former officer in the Zionist Air Force, who has already refused to engage in an air strike on Gaza, and the American writer Alice Walker.

"We are sending a message to our government that we believe that the (boat) can play a more positive role, not only in ending the siege on Gaza, but in the end to the occupation as a whole. The name represents what we believe, which is the possibility of making a change in a positive manner, a position that is replete with hope.”

The Freedom Flotilla 2 includes 15 boats, including "Mavi Marmara," which was attacked by the Zionists last year on its route to Gaza and nine Turks on board were killed. There are as well boats that are carrying Sapanish, Canadian, Swiss and Irish citizens. Organizers said that at least a thousand people will be on board the fleet.

The American boat, registered in Delaware in the United States, is owned by a Greek company.

The New York Times quoted some of the American participants saying they support the Palestinian people not "Hamas" and that they are like the (Freedom Riders) who boarded the bus fifty years ago and went to the American South to challenge racial discrimination, In reference to the racial bigotry at the time when Americans of African descent were seated next to the eggs in the public transport buses.

Gabriel Chiffon, a student at the University of Arizona and a participant in the Freedom Flotilla, said "Our work is inspired by the principles of Martin Luther King by calling for direct action, which is creating a very tense situation forcing the world to pay attention and see what happens to the Palestinians."

S Jewish Holocaust survivor, Heidi Epstein (86 years), explained that "The American Jewish society and Israel say they speak for all Jews but they do not speak in my name. They do not speak on behalf of the Jews of this country who will be on board the U.S. boat and a lot of people who stand behind us”

© Islam Times