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Two boats carrying international activists from Cyprus to Gaza landed at their destination on Monday, effectively breaking the year-long Israeli blockade. The Free Gaza movement which organized the effort, hopes to draw enough international attention to the plight of Gazans by their action. Israel initially suggested that it may block the passage of the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty but eventually decided to let the boats pass. The activists, who hail from 17 countries, including Israel itself, delivered a symbolic shipment of hearing aids and balloons to the people of Gaza. A day after they landed the activists boarded Palestinian fishing boats sailing further into the Mediterranean from the Gaza coast than they have in years. Israel has blocked Palestinian fishermen from fishing more than 6 miles from the coast. The group also held a protest with families of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Meanwhile, Israel freed nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners yesterday in an effort to shore up the leadership of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’. Currently more than 9000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails.

GUEST: Huwaida Arraf, member of the Free Gaza Movement and one of the 44 activists who sailed into Gaza.

For more information, visit www.freegaza.org.