CAIRO: A flotilla of humanitarian aid ships is gearing up to set sail this fall to Gaza in an attempt to break the ongoing Israeli blockade of the Strip. The “US to Gaza” organization has starting raising funds of $370,000 to finance the trip that is planned for September or October. Not so ironically, the participating US boat is being called “The Audacity of Hope,” named after the bestselling book written by US President Barack Obama. The US to Gaza (ustogaza.org) site states that it will be part of a flotilla joining ships from Europe, Canada, South Africa, India and the Middle East. One of the more well-known figures supporting this campaign is Professor Rashid Khalidi, the director of the Middle East Institute at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, who also happens to be a friend of President Obama. When questioned about his involvement and name of the ship, Khalidi stated that he did not know the name of the ship when he added his name to the list of sponsors. He also told Daily News Egypt in an email interview, “If the name is a problem for the administration and they find it embarrassing, it need only disassociate itself totally from the siege and blockade of Gaza, and insist that Israel (and Egypt) open up all air, land and sea routes, so Gazans can enter and leave and can import and export freely.” The money is being raised to purchase the vessel, which will hold 40-60 crew members, and cover the licensing and registration as well as subsidize any other costs that arise. The organization is holding various fundraisers as well as allowing people to donate on their website. Khalidi said that he would be surprised if the monetary goal is not reached. The question is will this flotilla face the same treatment as past ones, such as the Mavi Marmara, which was raided by Israel in May. Khalidi stated that while Americans are not immune to such maltreatment, it would not be in the best interest of Israel and only cause another public relations disaster for them. “It will further erode American public support, which for the first time in my memory is not as solid as it usually has been, especially among the young and in important segments of the American Jewish community,” Khalidi said. Several flotillas have recently set sail to Gaza aiming to end the four-year-long Israeli siege of the Strip, home to 1.5 million Palestinians. “Together we will contribute to the great effort to end the blockade of Gaza and the illegal occupation of Palestine,” said organizers on their website.
