“Palestine is So Far Away” Why I Sailed
We are nearing the end of our mission. We are expected to make Gaza by Wednesday or Thursday latest. In the next 24 to 48 hours, we shall hit the waters where two previous flotillas (what’s the plural of flotilla, flotilii?) the Madleen and the Handala were intercepted by the Zionists resulting in arrest of the participants and in those two flotillii (!!). Like now, Israel will tell you that there were no weapons just food, toys, medicine and baby formula. But because Zionism is hateful and dehumanizes anyone who is not them, the fact that anyone in the world can empathise with anyone who doesn’t look like them really brings out all their bile and hate.
Aware of all this then, and the high possibility of an interception, why did I sail?
There are the obvious reasons. The fact that unlike previous attempts at siege-breaking, there are a lot more people and a lot more boats. I believe the almost 600 people I travel with from 44 countries have already helped their families, friends and acquaintances question the failure of governments in ensuring that a genocide through starvation that we have observed in real time does not continue.
During the 20th Century, the British were responsible for such a genocide in my own home country during the second South African war resulting in the death of many native South Africans and Europeans of Dutch heritage; the Germans were responsible for similar genocides in the now Namibia and Tanzania as happened to the Herero-Nama and the Maji Maji Rebellion; the British again to the Mau Mau in Kenya and and and. Mid 20th century was a time for "decolonisation" for a lot of Asian and African countries from colonising Global North governments. As a person from the Global South used to seeing the plunder and looting of our countries through neocolonialism, I expect nothing from Global North governments as another genocide happens, unless their citizens force them to do the right thing through protests and boycotts as has been happening.
What are the Global South governments doing ?
But I find it immensely disturbing that in the 21st century, many of the “free” Global South governments are allowing this to happen to the Palestinians. By being here, I am hoping to awaken our governments’ conscience to not just walk out of UN when Netanyahu is talking but to act against the siege as they well know that the siege of Gaza, in place since 2007, is illegal per international laws (largely created by same Global North governments).
I sail because I see a correlation between the ethnonationalist belief in superiority and the dogma of a Chosen People that is Zionism and its co-option of the greedy to do its bidding and criminalise the poor. I see how a gold artisanal miner in Stilfontein, in Botswana, in Zimbabwe can endanger themselves so they can get some small monies to live. I see how they are arrested but the laws don’t see fit to arrest the people who demand the gold they sell. The same gold that finds itself in United Arab Emirates unable to be traced, much like the gold from the Sudan that’s given in exchange for weapons killing our brothers and sisters there. I sail because even if the weapons tested on Palestinians were not the same ones (they are) exported to kill Congolese, Haitians, Sudanese, Kashmiris, Tamils humanity demands that I do something.
I have written petitions to my government and other governments. I have taken part in pro-Palestinian protests to show that I, like many across the world, need a more humane world. I have boycotted. I have donated what little I could, I have spoken up. I sail because I felt watching another child killed and posting my rage would drive me mad. I sail because I hope, with the world governments seeing how many ordinary people like me, like the people on these boats, like all the ordinary people who have been turning up for protests, who have been speaking up on social media, who have been boycotting, asking for divestments and sanctions, this flotilla breaking the siege will be the first step to hold to account all those complicit in the genocide and to a just and peaceful Palestine. To a just and peaceful Sudan, Congo, Haiti, Kashmir and the entire world.
“I sail because I hope.”
I sail because I hope.The same hope that gets me to the ballot box to vote for an individual who may not win but who I believe can make a difference.
The same hope that has me believing good can overcome evil and sometimes love actually wins.
The same hope that has me believing that at heart, human beings are good and kind and want the best not just for their families and friends but for humanity.
I sail, because I am a dreamer. And sometimes all it takes to make the world a better place is to dream of a better place and act on it.
This is my last journal post as the next few days will be uncertain. When you read this, my comrades, the siblings I now have from seven countries and I shall either be on the shores of Gaza (first prize) or we shall have been intercepted by the enemies of humanity. Whatever happens when you read this you, reader, you will know that we tried and if you haven’t already, you will hopefully join us in the struggle for a kinder, more just, more loving world. The sort of world we may not have inherited from our ancestors but that we would like to leave for our descendants and all future generations. A world that encourages that care.
