1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I urge you to immediately call for the government to reflag the Freedom Flotilla, allowing 5000 tonnes of essential humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has called for increased aid, and this initiative is crucial for providing food and medical assistance to those in dire need. Guinea-Bissau recently removed its flags from two of the flotilla’s vessels, including the cargo ship itself. Without flags, the ships cannot sail. Denying access to this aid only exacerbates the suffering of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. The relief effort is a non-violent mission that applies with international humanitarian law. We must allow them to sail. Therefore, I implore you to immediately call for our government to reflag the flotilla, to ensure the departure and safe passage of this essential relief mission. Gaza is illegally occupied by Israel, which has blockaded access to the strip by air, land, and sea. As humanitarian aid truck access has been severely restricted, we have witnessed targeted strikes on these vehicles by Israeli forces, resulting in the deaths of over 224 humanitarian personnel. The proposed US dock in Gaza acknowledges the viability and necessity of shipping in aid. The Freedom Flotilla, funded independently, aims to deliver over 5000 tonnes of aid to Gaza. This act of compassion must be supported by international governments, as it has been by the global civilian community. Since its establishment in 2010, the Freedom Flotilla has successfully delivered aid to Gaza multiple times. However, in other instances, their vessels have been intercepted and boarded by Israeli forces enforcing the illegal blockade. The conditions in the strip are dire, with over 2 million Palestinians displaced from their homes, and over half a million homes either completely or partially destroyed. Given our government’s alliance with Israel, it’s expected that you can unequivocally guarantee safe passage and non-interference with the humanitarian aid workers’ mission. Any obstruction of the flotilla, which comprises civilians from over 30 countries, should be seen as an act of aggression. The United Nations has reported that children in Gaza are experiencing the fastest starvation rate ever recorded. It is imperative that we allow as much aid to enter as possible. The Freedom Flotilla must be permitted to sail. I await your support for this humanitarian effort.