First Briton returns after flotilla attack

Sarah Colborne speaks to the press following her ordeal. Photo Credit: Alexandra Zeevalkink

Sarah Colborne from Hackney was the first Briton to return to the United Kingdom yesterday from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla. She was there representing the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) for which she works as director of campaigns and operations. Still wearing her prison clothes she sets out the gruesome deeds that according to her were committed against the flotilla by the Israeli army.

Looking sad and pale, the still visibly shocked Colborne gave her version of events yesterday and told reporters about the attacks she endured when the activists attempted to carry humanitarian aid to the deprived people of Gaza.

According to Colborne the situation is plain and simple. “In the last couple of days the Israeli government has added piracy, an attack on a humanitarian aid boat in international waters and the murder of civilians in international waters to their growing list of crimes against humanity.

“This mission was a peaceful mission and its goal was to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza and nothing more.”

The UN Security Council on Monday condemned the Israeli’s use of military force and calls for an impartial investigation to be made.

What was meant to be a peaceful mission ended for Colborne with seeing four deaths on her ship and being held at Beesheba prison. “It felt surreal. None of us anticipated this. I could hear the sounds of the bullets flying while I was on the boat. That is the sound I remember, the bullets.”

According to Sarah there were definitely no arms on the ships as the Israeli government has alleged. “All of the passengers and all of the supplies on the boat had to get through the Turkish port authorities in order to board. I was scanned, my bags were scanned, everything was scanned. There is no way that arms could have been taken on board. And at no time have I seen any kind of arms being used by the people on our boat.”

Colborne said the campaigners will not stop here. “We along with the other groups that participated in the mission are committed to continuing to pressurize the governments of the world, to end the blockade of Gaza,” she said. “It is illegal, it is immoral. More than 1.5 million people are living under a blockade and we will continue to challenge that. We will continue to work, to campaign and to end the siege on Gaza.”

The campaigners want to see the British government undertake action, they want the international community to end the siege on Gaza.

Was it worth it for Colborne?

“We have to wait and see but I am hoping that it was worth it in the sense that it presents a wakeup call to the world. We can’t sit by and watch this continue, to sit by and watch Israel violate international laws every day and violate the human rights of the Palestinians,” she said.

“I am hoping that the deaths of those who have died were not in vain and that the British government and other governments will take notice.”