27th Oct 2008

MAIREAD MAGUIRE, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE
CALLS UPON IRISH GOVERNMENT TO SAIL VESSEL WITH MEDICINES AND AID IMMEDIATELY TO GAZA AND BREAK THE ISRAELI
BLOCKADE WHICH IS CAUSING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA.

October 28th, 2008, Mairead Maguire will join the Free Gaza
Movement to Sail for Gaza. The purpose of the journey is to
Break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which is a collective
Punishment of the people of Gaza, causing a humanitarian
Crisis.

Maguire, will join Five physicians, also Jamal Zahalka, a member of the Israeli Knesset and, Mustafa Barghouthi, a member of the Palestinian
Legislative Council. both of whom are determined to forge alliances
With their countrymen in Gaza, as they have been unable to do
This because of Israeli’s policy of closing all land boarders, to the
People of Gaza. The boat will carry 26 passengers and a crew to the
Port of Gaza.

The Free Gaza movement will bring in 6 cubic metres of medicine and some of the medical specialists will remain in Gaza to assist in this worsening crisis. If this
Situation continues, a UN official has warned it will cause famine
And disease and yet another catastrophe for the one
And a half million people of Gaza, trapped inside what is the
Worlds’ largest human-made prison.

Maguire said before leaving: “It seems incredible in this the 2lst
Century, that families in Gaza are asking for cough bottles and
medicines, indeed all the basic things we take for granted
And they cannot get, because the Israeli Government for 16 months
Have cut them off from the World. The Medicine Free Gaza Movement carry to them is purely symbolic. Until this cruel blockade is lifted by Israel, what
is required immediately is a huge humanitarian response from the
International community to deal with this Israeli Government made crisis. Yet
All world Governments are committing the ‘Crime of Silent’ in face
Of this cruelty and inhumanity perpetrated by Israel upon women and children.

I call upon the Irish Government to load a Vessel of medicines, food
And aid and sail immediately for Gaza… If they refuse to do so, then
Surely some other Government will have the moral courage to defy Israeli Governments Blockade of Gaza, and save the children?”

Mairead Maguire
Nobel Peace Laureate
www.peacepeople.com