Michael Coleman is an Australian activist in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle who took part in the second 鈥渇reedom flotilla鈥 in 2011 that sought to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. After Israel attacked the boat he was on, which was carrying humanitarian aid, Coleman was held for a week in an Israeli jail and deported.
Michael Coleman
Rachel Corrie was born on April 10, 1979, and raised in Olympia, Washington, in the US. She was the youngest of the three children of Craig and Cindy Corrie. Rachel鈥檚 mother Cindy describes their family as 鈥渁verage Americans, politically liberal, economically conservative, middle class鈥.
After its successful participation in Freedom Flotilla Two and Freedom Waves last year, Free Gaza Australia (FGA) in cooperation with its international partners is launching a new initiative: Gaza鈥檚 Ark 鈥 Building Hope. Gaza鈥檚 Ark will challenge the illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade of Gaza that collectively punishes more than 1.5 million Palestinians.
Gaza has 鈥渙fficially鈥 been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, but the restriction on the movement of the population of Gaza began in 1991 when Gaza was first cut off from Israel and the West Bank.
On November 4, Israeli warships in international waters attacked and boarded the two vessels and Saoirse that were trying to deliver medical aid the besieged territory of Gaza.