1.8 million counting on Women's Boats to Gaza

The ten year long sea blockade of Gaza by Israel represents collective punishment and crimes against humanity; and must be opposed by every sane, decent person. In seventeen days the Amal Hope sets sail from Barcelona, Spain with token supplies, but more importantly, a glimmer of hope for the 1.8 million living under horrendous conditions in the small strip of land which constitutes the world's largest open air prison. In August, 2008, two small boats did make the journey safely, prompting Israel to attack the Mavi Mamara, the next boat that tried in 2010, resulting in nine dead crew. A year later a Greek boat was intercepted in international waters; the crew was spared death but kidnapped and imprisoned for a time in Israel. The Amal Hope's all women crew of politicians, media, athletes, artists and activists includes athlete coach Cegdem Tapcuoglu, widow of one of the nine murdered on the Mavi Mamara.

Back in the 1930's and 40's Americans were rightly criticized for ignoring the catastrophe engulfing European Jews. Yet, eight decades on were not only ignoring the catastrophe engulfing nearly two million Gazans, three quarters of whom suffer food insecurity, we stand by while our government throws billions of our tax dollars at the Israeli government every year to enable this human tragedy.

Though a non-theist, I'll be saying a little prayer on September 16 for the Amal Hope and its courageous crew of determined women who should make us all turn away in shame for our insensitivity to man's inhumanity to man.