[Istanbul, Turkey – 22 May, 2010] Amid cheers and waving of Turkish and Palestinian flags, the second ship to join the Freedom Flotilla left Istanbul this afternoon. Sponsored by the Turkish humanitarian organization, Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), the ship will carry 600 passengers to Gaza as part of the 'blockade busting’ flotilla. It joins eight other boats coming from three other countries carrying 10,000 tons of supplies to the Palestinian people, supplies that have been denied to them by Israel.

Boats will meet in the Mediterranean, then turn toward Gaza to arrive at its beseiged slice of beachfront by the end of May. Free Gaza Movement’s MV Rachel Corrie is already on her way from Ireland and is presently off the coast of Portugal loaded with cement, paper and supplies for school children and medical equipment.

Said John Ging, Head of United Nation's Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip since 2006 said, "We recommend the world send ships to the shores of Gaza, and we believe that Israel would not stop these vessels because the sea is open, and many human rights organizations have been successful in previous similar steps, and proved that breaking the siege on Gaza is possible."

For more information:
Free Gaza Movement – Greta Berlin - +357 99187275

Free Gaza Movement – Huwaida Arraf - +306983046697

ECESG – Mazen Kahel - +33 1 46 81 12 92

IHH – Ahmet Emin Dag – +90 530 341 1934

Ship to Gaza / Greece – Vangelis Pissias - +30 697 200 9339

Ship to Gaza / Sweden – Dror Feiler - +46702855777



The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is comprised of: Free Gaza Movement (FG), European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza (ECESG), Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), Ship to Gaza Greece, Ship to Gaza Sweden, and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza, with hundreds of groups and organizations around the world supporting the effort.

www.freegaza.org
www.savegaza.eu
www.ihh.org.tr
www.shiptogaza.gr
www.shiptogaza.se