On Thursday, July 25, the Federation of Italian Migrant Workers and Families (FILEF) and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) will host an information evening at the Leichhardt Library, on the campaign to end the Australian government’s complicity with the blockade of Gaza.
James Godfrey, one of the organisers of Free Gaza Australia and a media spokesperson for the FFC, said that the evening in Leichhardt will “give information to people about the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza and the efforts by civil society across the world – including in Italy – to challenge it”.
“For many years boats have been trying to break the blockade and many of them have left port in Italy before heading to Palestine,” Godfrey continued.
“Just last year two boats left from Palermo and headed to Gaza.”
The Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip commenced in 2007.
Gaza’s population is largely made up of Palestinian refugees who were evicted from their lands in 1948.
The ongoing land, air and sea blockade means that there is no freedom of movement for the Palestinian refugees who inhabit the area.
Severe restrictions on freedom have been maintained for more than 12 years, to catastrophic effect.
Most people are unable to leave for health, education or any reason, and the areas in which Palestinians can fish for food in the Mediterranean are very limited.
Read the article by Lucia Moon in Il Globo.