By Jane Salmon
Here’s to the Flotilla
The Global Sumud Flotilla is about brave people doing exceptional things with skill, compassion, colour, spirit and gruff chutzpah.
Would I leave my comfy chair to rush to the aid of two million humans I don’t know?
Unlikely.
Would I try to hold the world to account for systematic abuse of an entire population out of sheer fear of dire cruelty becoming the new normal globally?
Would I risk an Israeli gun in an orifice or worse?
Nope. Not too fond of trauma. Takes ages to get over, if one can.
Would I stare down the merchants of death and their weapons systems?
Not too keen on stirring them up, really.
Would I throw myself out way past poverty to have the few things I do own taken by a rich, angry army?
Would I even face ocean storms on creaky boats with a team of random sailors? Again no.
Would I throw myself under squeaking and grinding machinery of “national security”?
I’d really rather not.
Would I fundraise for vessels that are going to be trashed?
Would I sing like noone is watching?
Would I swear like Captain Haddock on national tv? Tempting … but unlikely.
Has it been a privilege to observe?
Oh yes.
And to watch truth sometimes win?
Absolutely.
We are all the better for the honesty.
Thank you, Global Sumud Flotilla participants.
Be proud.
Also by Jane Salmon:
Culture overlooked on North Shore
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Thank you, Jane and thanks to all the brave flotilla participants.
Prior to the sailing of the flotilla the mainstream media had successfully buried news of Gaza. So, in terms of raising awareness again the flotilla’s efforts were a success.
How opposing a genocide is not something all Australians can agree on is beyond me. Those of the flotilla hopefully know that they have done all that they could to stop this evil – respect and thanks to all of them.
My thoughts exactly, Jane.
That Albanese won’t meet with them, and remains silent about their abuse, is so far beyond disgraceful that it blows my mind. I’ve come to loathe that venal man who used to hide behind a benign smile. His true self is now on full display.
I once asked Albanese (on his social media): Why is it you don’t want Australian citizen ISIS brides in Australia but happily accept IDF soldiers on leave from depravity, and Israel’s PM?
Shockingly, my comment only received one like. Are Australians also complicit?
Jen, nice work.
Don’t worry about getting only one like.
That one “liker” would have spread the word, and you made a lot of other people think, and made some squirm.
That’s a win.
Inevitably, as Trump is finding and as Netanyahu will ultimately have to acknowledge, the rule of international law will prevail.
‘In its landmark 2024 advisory opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the ICJ concluded that Israel’s continued presence and control over Palestinian land, air, and territorial waters are unlawful. The Court stated that Israel must relinquish control over all aspects of the territory. The ICJ has issued binding provisional measures in ongoing cases ordering Israel to ensure the unhindered provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance at scale. Blocking or severely restricting maritime and land aid distribution runs directly counter to these legally binding orders’
Israel has consistently ignored rulings by the Internationa Court of Justice and Resolutions of the United Nations and does so with the wholehearted support of the Trump administration and that’s the problem.
Until the US has a new administration and is prepared to recognise Palestine as an indpendent sovereign entity, these breaches of international law by Israel will continue not only in Gaza but now in Lebanon and potentially Syria and Iran.
The only short term solution is, in my view, the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement working to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
David Shoebridge said that flotilla members at the airport saw consulate staff and called out, begged for help and got nothing whilst being dragged away and beaten by Israeli soldiers in sight of Australian consulate officials. At odds to this, it seems to me, the department spokesperson said there was a screen that stopped any line of sight of the flotilla members.
He also said that upon the arrival of flotilla members at Turkey (I think this would be those first kidnapped and tortured by Israel) DFAT put out a statement (through an SBS interview I think it was) saying that no one required immediate medical attention beyond the provision of basic first aid supplies.
David Shoebridge asked Penny Wong about these matters. Her petulent, evasive and arrogant responses reflect terribly on her. She is surely the worst foreign minister Australia has ever had.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91qEcnBgtEk
As @gudubenben put it: Mr Shoebridge questioned the foreign minister as a selected senator on behalf of concerned Australian citizens, not as a Greens Party member. Any senator questioning the minister is committing their duty and the minister is obliged to answer. It’s despicable that Penny Wong twisted this as a partisan issue.
Dave Milner reported on The Sunday Shot at the time of the first kidnapping that he rang DFAT for information re: the flotilla and got a prerecorded message basically scolding him for asking.
This should be considered in light of the earlier flotilla where members were also physically assaulted, tortured and sexually assaulted, including a sexual attack on Greta Thunberg. Penny Wong and DFAT did nothing about that. Did it take outrage from other countries on the release of Ben-G’vir’s video to get Wong to do anything at all.
She is calling for an investigation; but has left Israel the wriggle room to have an internal investigation, as was done with the murder of Zomi Frankcom. That is just asking for a ‘it never happened, they’re liars’ response from Israel.
She should not be a minister, she should resign immediately and she should leave parliament. It was callous behaviour that showed utter contempt for Australians and anything that spoiled her day.