Freedom Flotilla Passenger recommendations + the form

Dear Potential Passenger,

Thank you for your interest in travelling to the Gaza Strip aboard by one of the Freedom Flotilla boats. Currently, travelling to Gaza is restricted by the Israeli government, and Gaza itself is suffering from a serious humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli bombings and blockade. Our ships are attempting to overcome Israeli violence and oppression through civil resistance and non-violent direct action, as well as an effort to maintain and build upon solidarity campaigns with the people of Gaza.

What you should know

“Travelling with us to Gaza may require a substantial commitment on your part, both in time and money. You will be responsible for all of your personal expenses (food, accommodations, et al). Because of potential and unpredictable problems stemming from the political situation, logistical issues, and the weather - we cannot guarantee an exact departure date from either Cyprus or Gaza. Even though we may only be in Gaza for a few days, we ask all passengers to plan for at least a 3-week commitment of their time. Additionally, please be aware that Freedom Flotilla passengers who have chosen to remain in Gaza beyond our departure have had great difficulty in exiting on their own through either the Erez or Rafah border crossings. “Travelling with us to Gaza can be physically and emotionally strenuous. Depending on which ship you are on, we could be at sea for up to 30 hours in rough weather conditions. In the past, many of our passengers have suffered from extreme seasickness. “Travelling with us to Gaza is a potentially arrestable action. The Israeli government has previously threatened to stop our ships and arrest all passengers. We have no desire for this to happen, but we could be arrested by Israel at any time during our journey. “Travelling with us to Gaza is potentially life-threatening for several reasons:

· Despite requirements of previous Flotilla that all passengers sign a pledge of non-violence, the Israeli military has publicly stated that they feel "justified" in using force to stop our unarmed ships. On 30 December 2008, Israeli navy gunboats physically rammed the Dignity, a previous Freedom Flotilla ship. Thankfully, no one was injured in that attack, but it was an extremely dangerous situation.

· Members of our organization have received anonymous threats in the past, including threats against our family members.

· Israel has a history of violence in the region and may bomb Gaza at any time.

· There have been periods of civil violence in Gaza between the Hamas government and members of Fatah. This could happen again.

· There are extremist groups in Gaza, some loosely associated with Al-Qaeda, that have threatened violence against Westerners. This has not happened to date, and the extent of these threats is not clear.

“Despite these risks, there are more people who want to travel to Gaza than we could possibly take on our small ships. As a consequence, we have very limited space for potential passengers.

If you are still interested in sailing with us to Gaza,

please fill out the following application.Thank you for your interest, and we will let you know as soon as we can.

Please …fill out the following form with your details and send it back to beesan@savegaza.eu

First Name

***

Middle Name ***
Gender *** Date of birth ***
Nationality *** Passport No ***
Country Issuing Passport *** Passport Issue Date ***
Passport
Expiration Date
***
Ever denied entry to any country? *** Date Denied Entry:  
Country Denied Entry  
Address (line 1):  
Address (line 2):  
City: *** State: ***
Country: *** Zip / Postal Code: ***
Phone: *** E-mail ***
Emergency Contact Name: *** Emergency Contact Phone ***
Do you agree with terms & conditions? ***
Date Joining

***
Languages spoken and level of fluency ***
Special skills/expertise to share ***
Any issues/commitments that might prevent you from joining or completing the tour?

Please explain:

 

Any health problem that might prevent you from joining or completing the tour?

Please explain:

 

Previous experience in Humanitarian Relief?

Please explain:

Previous experience in Gaza specifically?

Please explain:

Are you willing to share your experience upon returning?

 

 

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