PHOTOS: With The Freedom Flotilla In Cádiz, Spain

By Cat Watters - July 16, 2018 Leave a Comment

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is sailing in a peaceful effort to break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza and for the ideals of freedom of movement and the right to a decent future. This is the third of several articles I will post reporting on my time in Spain volunteering to help on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to Palestine’s Gaza. Take a look at my first two articles in this series here and here.

This article covers the flotilla’s time in the Spanish city of Cádiz, considered to be the oldest inhabited city in Europe. Thank you again for all who supported my trip through donations!

During the first day in Cadiz with Sergio Patatin who is helping out by doing laundry for the Flotilla’s ships at his apartment.

Supporters of Palestine arriving at the port in Cadiz where the Flotilla’s ships are docked for the next couple of days during their long journey from Norway to Gaza that began in mid May. They will attempt to break Israel’s blockade on July 29th.

The flotilla is currently stopping in ports for different events along the way and raising awareness. You can follow the progress of the flotilla here.

‘La Flotilla de la Libertad llega a Cádiz’ Press Conference with Cristina Apa’trida on the far left, Zohar Chamberlain Regev next, then Jens Marklund and David Heap far right.

Zohar Chamberlain Regev is an impressive Israeli citizen who was born and raised in Kibbutz Kfar Hahoresh, near Nazareth. Zohar is the owner of the famous ‘Women’s Boat to Gaza’ known as the Zaytouna-Oliva that was seized in 2016 and still the object of court proceedings in Israel. Currently, she represents the Rumbo a Gaza organization on the “Right to a Just Future for Palestine” Steering Committee and is the Freedom Flotilla’s boat leader on board Al Awda (The Return).

Calling a spade a spade on t-shirts, banners, signs as supporters for Palestine came to the port in Cadiz, Spain in a rallying cry to stop the crimes of Israel and end the blockade of Gaza.

David Heap of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition talking to supporters and press.

David Heap is a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in Canada who speaks fluent Spanish and in the photo above was explaining to the press about the flotilla’s trouble in Paris. The “locks” in Paris should have taken 20 minutes to get through but authorities in Paris went through all of their documents on both boats and gave them fines. They were instructed not to have banners and forbidden to moor their boats.

Also, the former Palestinian Ambassador to France and the EU was there and an X minister of the Socialist party and Government Minister Jack Lang were waiting to meet us. As Heap explained, “Three “zodiacs” kept us from mooring there and pushed us upstream to the locks in Paris and forced us to leave on Sunday. So, this is the French Government”.

Supporters for Palestine and their right to self determination gathered at the port in Cadiz, Spain. The Flotilla stopped in ports along it’s journey from Norway. Most ports were supportive of the Palestinian cause despite issues in Paris, Germany and some restrictions in Cascais, Portugal where I was.

Cristina Apa’trida (center) is an activist and supporter of Palestinian rights here speaking at press conference at port in Cadiz, Spain.

A fight for the rights of Palestinians is a fight for the Rights of All

Zohar’s parents photographed standing in front of the flotilla’s Al- Awda ship as it was docked at the port in Cadiz, Spain. They came to participate in events and rallies in support of the Flotilla.

See my Facebook page for more livestream and posts or follow the Flotilla’s progress here.

About Cat Watters

Cat Watters is a journalist, blogger, videographer, photographer and radio host on Peoples Internet Radio. She is an expert at photographing, filming and editing footage of street protests, street actions, political rallies, and other events. Cat writes for Democracy Chronicles from Brooklyn, New York and you can tune in to her radio show at Peoples Internet Radio every Tuesday from 6 to 8pm EST.

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