Women's Boat to Gaza


The Women's Boat to Gaza was an initiative by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in 2016 to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The WBG consisted of an entirely female crew and one ship, Zaytouna-Oliva. It started from Barcelona on 14 September 2016 and visited Ajaccio, Corsica and Messina, Sicily along the way. On 5 October 2016, the Israeli Navy intercepted the Women's Boat to Gaza and detained its crew members, who were taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The activists were subsequently deported to their home countries.

Goals and objectives

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition launched the Women's Boat to Gaza to raise awareness of the role of women in advancing the Palestinian struggle in the Palestinian Territories and diaspora. The Women's Boat to Gaza also supported the goals of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign:
  1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;
  2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
  3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.

    Participants

The Women's Boat to Gaza had a total of 26 participants. The voyage was divided into three legs: Barcelona to Ajaccio, Ajaccio to Messina, and Messina to Gaza. Each leg was crewed by thirteen volunteers with several members alternating at different legs of the voyage.
StatePersonalityStatus
Malin BjörkMember of the European Parliament of the Swedish Left Party.
Yehudit Barbara IlanyPhotographer, freelancer.
Paulina de los ReyesAcademic, Stockholm University.
Dr. Fauziah HasanPhysician.
Madeleine HabibActivist and seafarer.
Rosana PastorActress, director/activist, and politician.
Ann WrightBoat leader, retired United States Army colonel and diplomat.
Lucia Muñoz LucenaTelesur journalist.
Jaldia AbubakraActivist.
Wendy GoldsmithSocial worker and boat leader.
Synne Sofie RekstenStudent and crew.
Emma RinqvistMusic teacher and crew.
Kitt KittredgePeace activist.
LisaGay HamiltonActress.
Khadija BenguennaAl Jazeera journalist.
Latifa HabachiTunisian lawyer, politician, and Member of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People.
Hayat Al YamaniAl Jazeera Mubasher Al-‘Amma journalist.
Norsham Binti AbubakrSupport Services Manager at An-Nur Specialist Hospital.
Mairead MaguirePeace activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Marama DavidsonGreen Member of Parliament, environmentalist, and human rights activist.
Jeannette EscanillaSwedish Left Party Member of Parliament.
Samira DouaifiaMember of the Algerian People's National Assembly.
Leigh-Ann NaidooBeach volley ball player.
Hoda RakhmeAl Jazeera camerawoman and editor.
Mina HarballouAl Jazeera journalist.
Sandra BarrilaroPhotographer.

Ships

The Zaytouna-Oliva was the sole ship in the Women's Boat to Gaza expedition. The Oliva was named after a civil protection boat that the Italian journalist Vittorio Arrigoni sailed in prior to his murder by a Palestinian militant group in Gaza in 2011. A second ship called the Amal-Hope was originally due to participate but pulled out subsequently.

Organization partners

Organizations and campaigns participating in the Women's Boat to Gaza have included Sweden Ship to Gaza, Norway Ship to Gaza, Canadian Boat to Gaza, the Italian Freedom Flotilla, the South African Palestine Solidarity Alliance, the Spanish Rumbo a Gaza, International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza, US Boat to Gaza, the New Zealand-based Kia Ora Gaza, and Free Gaza Australia.