'They'll try and stop us; we're prepared': Shahidul Alam en route to Gaza
Around 100 journalists, health workers, and organisers are preparing to join the Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian mission bound for Gaza, Shahidul Alam has said.
In a Facebook video last night (29 September) speaking from Otranto, the eminent photographer described the flotilla's main vessel, the Conscience, as "an old ship that needs a little bit of work but will certainly get us there."
Alam, also Drik's managing director, emphasised the determination of those on board to continue despite potential obstacles. "They will try and stop us. We're prepared for that. We've been training all day. We know the possibilities and the dangers, but we're determined," he said.
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Boarding is scheduled for 4pm tomorrow, and while the outcome remains uncertain, the participants are committed to the mission, he said.
The flotilla includes experienced crew members, lawyers, and many who have participated in previous flotillas, some of whom have faced arrests before. "
This is a determined group of professionals. Palestine will be free," Alam added.
Here's the full transcript of what he can be heard saying in the video:
We're standing here in Otranto and in the distance you can see the ship Conscience. It's an old ship and needs a little bit of work but it will certainly get us there. This is Shahidul Alam speaking from Otranto in Italy. Tomorrow around 100 people, made up of journalists, health workers and organisers, will join the flotilla. This is a separate ship.
We're going on our own and we will certainly make our way to Gaza. They will try and stop us. We're prepared for that. We've been training all day. We know what the possibilities are and what the dangers are but we're determined to do that.
Tomorrow we shall be boarding by 4pm and we don't really know what the outcome will be but this is a determined group. A group of professionals determined to make our way there.
We have lawyers with us. We have an entire crew skilled. Many people who've been on flotillas before. Some who've been arrested before but this time we've got to make it.
Palestine will be free.
