Vancouver activists will take to the water and the streets on Tuesday, June 10th in solidarity with the 12 captured civilians of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on day 100 of the full blockade of aid.
Israel has illegally imposed a full blockade of all food and medicine into Gaza as a weapon of war and kidnapped 12 civilians trying to break the blockade and deliver aid. When will Canada impose sanctions?
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) (Vancouver, BC) – On the evening of June 10th, concerned citizens of conscience and activists from around Greater Vancouver will march the Vancouver seawall in solidarity with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The rally will include marchers on land and also protesters on water to paddle in False Creek bringing attention to the 12 civilians who have been kidnapped by Israel after their boat was illegally seized in international waters.
The Madleen was sailing to Gaza with 11 activists, including Greta Thunberg, and one journalist, in an attempt to break the blockade on Gaza. Supplied with baby food and flour, the Madleen was only a few hundred kilometers away from Gaza on the morning of June 9th, 2025, in international waters, when it was intercepted by Israeli drones and illegally boarded. All passengers – civilians – were detained and the Madleen was seized. This is a war crime! The situation in Gaza has been declared a famine. It is our humanitarian duty and the right of the Madleen to deliver aid to Gaza. Canada has yet to condemn the actions of Israel.
“While the whole world watched on Sunday night, Israel attacked a civilian boat armed with baby formula! Our government is a disgrace, continuing to sit silently while war crimes are committed every day. These 12 civilians are an inspiration. I hope to see a whole fleet of flotillas and maybe our small fleet will inspire others to join the fight, “ says spokesperson and activist Tamer AbuRamadan.
Activists will come together to call on Canada to speak out against this egregious breach of international law by the Israeli army, who illegally boarded and seized a vessel in international waters and kidnapped its passengers. We also call on Prime Minister Carney to impose a two way arms embargo and impose sanctions upon Israel as it continues its genocide against the people of Gaza and uses starvation as a weapon of war. These are war crimes! Canada’s leaders will be held accountable for their complicity. It’s imperative they act NOW.
We invite all those who stand in solidarity with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and the Palestinian people to join this rally and march, to take action in the face of this ongoing crisis, and to demand justice for Gaza.
WHAT: Parallel march and paddle
WHEN: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 – 6:30pm
WHERE: Creekside Park, Science World, Vancouver, BC
WHO: Citizens of conscience and activists from across Greater Vancouver
INFORMATIONAL FLIER: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKsOcV4yZ7z/
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