On Saturday, October 4, more than two dozen people attended the “Make a Wave for Gaza” event at Broadway Parque, in downtown Fresno. Participants folded and decorated small paper boats, and some of them included statements in support of the international flotilla navigating at that moment to Gaza, bringing food and medical supplies to Palestinians living in Gaza, which was under constant bombardments by Israel.
“This is kind of art … You know, we are trying to get people’s attention,” explained activist Cam Fanning while painting a paper boat. The plan was to hang the paper boats around the Tower District.
The flotilla was intercepted by Israel and the occupants of the vessels were arrested and then deported. Those taking part of the flotilla were volunteers from different nationalities, including six Mexicans. Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who was among the volunteers bringing food and medicines to Gaza, accused Israel of intercepting the flotilla on international waters and mistreating those arrested.
The flotilla “is part of a global movement in support of Gaza and Palestinians,” said Fanning, an activist from Atlanta who just moved to Fresno. “There are several organizations helping, it’s kind of a temporary organization—like a coalition. The global movement to Gaza is kind of three or four different organizations coming together [and] instead of everyone doing their own float we are combining forces.”
Sending a flotilla to Gaza required a lot of organizing and logistics, dozens of volunteers in the ground—besides those on the vessels.
According to news reports, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed under Israel attacks—including thousands of children—and many others literally starved because of the Israel blockade of Gaza. Israel has had the full support of the US, under the presidencies of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, October 8, a peace agreement was announced for Gaza, which includes the liberation of 20 hostages by Hamas and the withdrawal of the Israeli army surrounding Gaza. While activists welcomed the peace agreement, they expressed doubt about Israel’s intentions to make it hold.
