Peace Boat sails to express solidarity with Palestine

By Derya Gulnaz Ozcan

ATHENS (AA)- The Peace Boat, a Japan-based NGO that has travel the world on educational voyages to promote peace and sustainability for decades, is sailing to express solidarity with Palestine.

Before the ship left the Port of Piraeus for Istanbul for the Egyptian port city of Port Saida, with Stop Killing Gaza banner on it, a group of activists and the ship’s crew and passengers chanted slogans expressing solidarity with Palestine.

The passengers, who then held a news conference, demanded an unconditional cease-fire to end the ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip.

They called Israeli attacks “genocide” and stressed that the indiscriminative bombing of civilians and hospitals, schools and residential areas is tantamount to an obvious violation of international law.

“We strongly condemn the killing of civilians and holding of hostages by Hamas. We call for the immediate release of the hostages. However, the virtually indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings, and the restriction on water, food, fuel, and aid is in clear violation of international humanitarian law,” International Coordinator of the Peace Boat Karen Hallows told Anadolu. “We strongly appeal to the world for an immediate cease-fire and the immediate supply of services and humanitarian aid to Gaza.”