The ship Pavlos Fyssas is believed to have been boarded by Israeli forces, though communication with the vessel has since been lost. Along with the Vangelis Pissias and Ahed Tamimi, the ship was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian mission seeking to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and break the blockade.

“Our suffering does not compare”

Politis explained that his decision to go on hunger strike was also a denunciation of what he called the “illegal arrest by the Zionist gang in international waters.” He stressed, however, that the plight of those detained in Israeli prisons cannot be compared to the systematic suffering of Palestinians.

“Our own suffering, with the imprisonment that begins today, does not compare to the conditions of imprisonment of the Palestinians, much less to the genocide to which the Palestinian people are subjected,” he wrote. “The solidarity movement should not prioritise the demand for our own liberation by taking its eyes off Gaza, but should remain focused on ending the genocide.”

A call to action

In his statement, Politis called on global civil society to respond to what he described as “Zionist brutality” and to the genocide “broadcast live before the world.”

“The sadness, rage and disgust from the images of shame coming from Gaza and the West Bank must be transformed into daily, mass social reactions,” he said. “These must pressure the complicit – mainly Western – governments to stop supporting the murderous state and finally end the genocide.

“There are no more excuses. No one can claim not to know what is happening. The only task humanity has today – the only task of all of us who still consider ourselves human – is to stop the genocide against the Palestinian people. It is time to separate humans from animals, light from darkness. All eyes on Gaza. Freedom for Palestine, from the river to the sea.”

Greek mission cut off

Communication with the three Greek ships – Pavlos Fyssas, Vangelis Pissias and Ahed Tamimi – has been lost since the reported interception. March to Gaza, the organising collective, issued a statement demanding clarity from the Greek government on the whereabouts of those detained.

“We demand that the Greek government establish the location of our comrades and guarantee their safety and immediate return to the country,” the group said.

The activists on board of “Pavlos Fyssas” and their messages:

Update and call for solidarity from the activists on board the “Ahed Tamimi”:

“Vangelis Pissias” with Greek and international activists aboard has also sent an SOS signal:

Reminder that the Greek solidarity vessel “Oxygono” was also attacked by Israel.

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