Al-Kaabi: US influence
the key obstacle -- to
Iraq’s sovereignty
September 7th, 10:07pm
(Al Mayadeen English)
Exclusive
In an Al Mayadeen Plus interview, al-Nujaba member Mahdi al-Kaabi
addresses US withdrawal, Kurdish forces and Iraq’s political future,
stressing Iraqi Resistance factions will not surrender their
weapons while US influence remains.
The political and security landscape in Iraq - remains closely tied to
regional and international developments, member of the al-Nujaba
Movement Mahdi al-Kaabi said, arguing that the US' influence
continues to affect political, economic, and legislative
affairs in the country.
In an interview on Al Mayadeen Plus - on Monday, September 7, al-
Kaabi stressed that Iraq’s ability to establish full sovereignty and
pursue an independent vision will give it significant geopolitical
weight in the region. He argued that this prospect conflicts
with the interests of the United States and those aligned
with its regional agenda.
“We believe there is a US occupation and influence in Iraq that
intervenes in every detail, whether in the political, economic,
or even legislative scene,” he said.
Al-Kaabi stated that Washington does not want Iraq to become
a strong and fully sovereign state capable of playing a leading
regional role. He said Iraq could serve as a model in the
region - if it exercised full sovereignty and developed
its own security, and economic and political vision.
Post-2014 period brought greater stability
Regarding the evolution of Iraq’s political decision-making, before
and after 2014, al-Kaabi said the period after that year, saw a
degree of security, and political and economic stability,
particularly after the war.
He attributed part of this stability..... to the emergence of the Popular
Mobilization Forces (PMF) as a force protecting the political process.
Al-Kaabi said that the institution was established by Abu Mahdi al-
Muhandis alongside Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani, with the
support of the religious authority in Najaf to combat terrorism.
The PMF were subsequently organized and given a legal framework
in 2016, which al-Kaabi said strengthened their political presence
and contributed to political stability.
Looking further back, however, he maintained that the US presence
remained the main source of pressure on Iraq’s political process
during both periods.
Al-Kaabi rejects claims of factions resisting arms control
Addressing claims that Resistance factions are refusing to
cooperate with the Iraqi government over the issue of
restricting weapons to state control, al-Kaabi
dismissed such reports as misleading.
“This talk is biased and incorrect. On the contrary - we are part
of the support for the Iraqi state and part of this state,” he said.
Al-Kaabi argued that the factions’ role within the state’s security
structure should be distinguished from their position on
confronting occupation. He said their presence within
the PMF makes them part of Iraq’s security system,
while Resistance against the US occupation is
a separate matter.
“We believe in -- and respect -- this political system, we respect the
political will, and we believe in the peaceful transfer of power,”
he said. “We definitely believe that this decision is an
international and regional decision,” he added,
while stressing that al-Nujaba respects the
position - of Iraq’s religious authority in
Najaf - but disagrees with the timing
and context in which the issue
is being raised.
However, al-Kaabi maintained that the presence of US influence
or weaknesses in Iraq’s security structure and its ability to
confront US forces justified the continued existence of
a Resistance emerging from Iraqi society ....and
possessing legitimacy.
He linked the issue of the Resistance's arms in Iraq -- to a broader
regional effort targeting Resistance movements. “The US project
is an existing project abroad, in Lebanon --- weakening Lebanon,
dividing it, and disarming Hezbollah is part of the US's project,”
he said, adding that the same approach was being pursued
in Gaza through efforts to disarm Hamas and against the
Resistance in Yemen.
Al-Kaabi further argued - that the pressure extends to Iran,
where he said efforts are aimed at stripping the country
of its missile and nuclear capabilities.
Dialogue with Iraqi political leaders is ongoing
Turning to reports - of intensive consultations between the
Coordination Framework leadership and Iraqi Resistance
factions, al-Kaabi confirmed that communication is
taking place between the two sides, saying that
relations are positive and normal.
Al-Kaabi rejected claims that the weapons of the Resistance
constitute a threat to Iraq’s political process or are being
used against political rivals. He stressed --- that the
weapons are disciplined and that the Resistance
leadership is responsible, arguing that the
pressure surrounding the issue stems
primarily from US intervention and
its efforts to complicate Iraq’s
political scene.
He also rejected recent rhetoric suggesting that Iraqi Resistance
factions could be deemed outside the law or designated as
terrorist groups after September 30. Al-Kaabi said such
language is categorically unacceptable and maintains
that any discussion over the future of the weapons,
should take place through an Iraqi dialogue once
US forces leave the country.
'Turkish presence threatens Iraqi sovereignty'
Al-Kaabi said the departure of US forces would not by itself resolve
the security question, pointing to the presence of Turkish forces
in Iraq --- as another issue requiring attention.
“Of course, there must be a Turkish withdrawal. There is a Turkish
occupation, and the Turkish presence after the US withdrawal
poses a threat to the Iraqi state,” he said.
He also pointed to developments in Syria, arguing that Turkey played
a military and intelligence role in supporting armed groups during
the change in the Syrian political system, which he linked to the
wider involvement of the United States and the Israeli regime.
Al-Kaabi rejects claims of political
deals over Resistance weapons
Al-Kaabi said meetings between al-Nujaba and figures from Iraq’s
Coordination Framework began with Hadi al-Amiri and were
followed by contacts involving Sheikh Qais al-Khazali,
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Nouri al-Maliki and
Ammar al-Hakim, among others. According to
al-Kaabi, the purpose --- was to convey a
message from the Islamic Resistance,
particularly al-Nujaba --- that it
considers itself a part of the
broader Iraqi political and
social fabric rather than
an adversary of the
political forces.
He dismissed reports that ministerial or security positions had
been offered to the movement in exchange for arrangements
concerning its weapons, stressing that al-Nujaba sees
itself as part of efforts to preserve stability in Iraq.
Al-Kaabi reiterated that the movement’s position on its weapons
remains unchanged, saying they are a source of strength and
a means of protecting Iraq and its people. He argued that
surrendering the weapons while US influence remains
in the country would be premature, particularly amid
the broader regional tensions and the unresolved
confrontation between Iran and the US.
'US withdrawal must be genuine'
Responding to claims that US-led coalition forces have already
withdrawn from several Iraqi bases, including reports about
Victoria and Ain al-Asad, al-Kaabi said the question of the
Resistance’s weapons could be reconsidered only after
a genuine US withdrawal is achieved.
He said the same principle would apply to foreign forces, including
French and British personnel, arguing that once foreign military
forces actually leave Iraq, there would be no objection to a
national Iraqi dialogue involving the Coordination
Framework and other political forces.
Such a process, al-Kaabi maintained, could include discussions over
organizing weapons, supporting the state and strengthening Iraq’s
security institutions. He stressed --- that the Resistance would
consider such measures positive if they took place under
conditions of genuine Iraqi sovereignty.
The central issue, however, remains the continued US presence,
which al-Kaabi said prevents trust in Washington and raises
concerns that a withdrawal.... could amount to “leaving
through the door and entering through the window.”
He nevertheless said the Iraqi government could negotiate
with the United States, provided the question of
sovereignty remained central.
Positive relations with prime minister
Asked directly about al-Nujaba's relationship with the prime minister,
al-Kaabi described it as positive and said the movement's support
for the government is linked to its positions on Iraqi sovereignty
and the withdrawal of US forces.
Al-Kaabi said the movement considers the current government
to be a product of Iraq's political process and agreements
among political actors, including the Coordination
Framework, that led to the nomination of the
prime minister.
He said that the formation of the government is a political matter
and maintained that al-Nujaba supports the Iraqi state in efforts
aimed at strengthening the country's sovereignty.
Al-Kaabi urges Iraq to use economic
leverage ---- against US pressure
On reports that Iraq could face economic sanctions or financial
restrictions if the issue of the Resistance's weapons is not
resolved, al-Kaabi acknowledged that Iraqi political
forces are under considerable pressure.
He argued, however, that Iraq also possesses economic leverage
that could be used in its dealings with Washington. He pointed
to US companies and investments operating in Iraq,
particularly in the country's south -- as well as the
strategic importance of Iraq and its oil resources.
He said the Iraqi government should use these interests as
a source of leverage rather than allowing Washington to
maintain exclusive influence over Iraq's economic and
political affairs.
Al-Kaabi also called for Baghdad to diversify its international
partnerships and expand economic relations with other
countries, arguing ---- that Iraq should not depend
exclusively on US companies and investment.
He said the government should seek greater engagement
with European and other international partners to create
a balance in its foreign economic relations, despite US
pressure ----- against closer cooperation with Russia
and China.
Al-Nujaba's military role complements political forces
On al-Nujaba's participation in governmental elections, al-Kaabi
said the movement does not consider political participation
inherently problematic but argued that its current role as
part of the Resistance serves a different purpose.
He said political forces are responsible for confronting external
pressure through political and diplomatic means, while
al-Nujaba's military role supports the broader effort
to defend Iraq and strengthen the state.
“It is not necessary for us ........to move toward politics, or toward
militarizing society,” he said, adding that cooperation between
different Iraqi forces allows the political and military roles
to complement one another.
According to al-Kaabi, the overriding objective should be to place
the interests of Iraq and its people ------- above political divisions.
Conditions for Iraq's relations with neighbouring states
On Iraq's relations with Syria, Turkey, the Gulf states and Kuwait,
al-Kaabi said al-Nujaba supports Baghdad's openness toward
neighbouring countries ...provided that they respect Iraq's
sovereignty ...and do not contribute to destabilizing it.
He said relations should be based on mutual respect for political
systems, national sovereignty, and religious and political
symbols, stressing that Iraq ....should reciprocate
such respect.
However, al-Kaabi said al-Nujaba would not trust countries it
believes engage in sectarian policies or conspire against
Iraq's political project and political process.
As for the security developments in Syria, al-Kaabi said armed
groups operating there continue to pose a threat to Iraqi
national security. He referred to the deployment of a
military division near the Iraqi-Syrian border and
cited rhetoric -- including the phrase "We are
coming to Karbala" as evidence of an
ongoing threat.
Al-Kaabi also accused the government in Syria of maintaining
sectarian policies toward minority communities and argued
that the current government does not represent the will of
the Syrian people.
He said that the current Syrian leadership came to power as part of
a US and Turkish-backed regional project aimed at pressuring Iran,
Lebanon and Iraq, as well as the broader Axis of Resistance.
Referring to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, al-Kaabi said his
past involvement with al-Qaeda and Takfiri groups in Iraq
remains a source of concern.
"Some people want to polish his image. That is their business,"
he said. "But when someone has been part of the al-Qaeda
project and the Takfiri project in Iraq, we have to keep a
question mark over him."
'Kurdish region groups remain outside Baghdad's control'
Discussing the Iraqi-Iranian security agreement and the presence of
Iranian separatist groups in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, al-Kaabi
rejected the suggestion that Baghdad or the Kurdistan Regional
Government exercise complete control over all such groups.
He argued that some of these organizations serve as pressure cards
used by the US in the region and accused Washington ---- of using
them to threaten the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Al-Kaabi said that when Iran carries out strikes targeting locations
inside Iraq, the presence of armed organizations along the Iraqi-
Iranian border must be considered in context.
He stated that these groups ------ possess weapons, equipment,
manpower, and training while operating outside the authority
of the Iraqi government.
According to al-Kaabi, the Iraqi Army has not entered or been
deployed throughout the Kurdistan Region since 1991,
stating that Baghdad's limited military presence has
affected its ability to exercise full control over the
border areas.
Al-Kaabi rejects claims over attacks
on oil fields in the Kurdistan Region
Addressing claims that Iraqi Resistance factions have struck oil
fields in the Kurdistan Region, al-Kaabi said the movement's
record of publicly claiming its operations makes such
allegations difficult to sustain - without evidence.
He argued that when the Resistance carries out an operation,
its leadership openly takes responsibility for it, pointing to its
declared support for Iran during the war -- and its backing of
the Palestinian and Lebanese fronts.
“Our positions are clear, and we are brave. If we had actually
attacked these sites, we would have claimed responsibility
for them,” al-Kaabi stated.
He called for evidence and formal investigations before assigning
responsibility for strikes in the region, saying that any such
incidents should be examined by investigative
committees ---- formed by the federal
government or the prime minister.
Iraqi Resistance remains allied with Iran
Reaffirming the Resistance factions' alliance with Tehran,
al-Kaabi stated that Iraqi Resistance groups would
participate in any future war should hostilities
against Iran resume.
“We are allies of the Islamic Republic,” he said.
Al-Kaabi stressed that Iraqi Resistance factions remain part
of the Axis of Resistance and would defend themselves
and their allies in Iraq ....and across the region.
He reiterated that the weapons held by the Resistance are
intended to defend Iraq and its people and would not be
used against political forces or Iraqi citizens.
“We will not be a substitute for the security forces, the Iraqi
Army, or the Iraqi state,” he said. “We are genuine Iraqi
citizens defending ourselves and our sovereignty.”
Al-Kaabi maintained that resistance to occupation, foreign
influence and pressure, as well as efforts to defend Iraq's
sovereignty, resources and people, remains legitimate.
Source: Al Mayadeen
___________________________________________
Vladimir Avatkov: Iran and Oman have agreed
on a new safe route in the Strait of Hormuz.
The memorandum will be registered with
the International Maritime Organization
in the coming days.
Sept. 7th, 5:55pm GMT
(Pravda.En)
Tehran will declare a no-go zone from the area of the US blockade to
the Persian Gulf: vessels will be blacklisted without permission. In
addition, Iran announced the test of an anti-ship missile on a US
warship - the details and damage were not disclosed. Read
more about this on the closed channel.
The blockade is already seriously affecting global supplies: in the
second quarter of 2026, oil traffic through the strait fell by 77%
(from 21.6 to 4.9 million barrels per day), and LNG shipments
by 92% (from 10.5 billion to 800 million cubic feet per day).
During the week from August 23 to August 29, only 4 oil
tankers and not a single gas carrier passed through
the strait. Iran accuses the United States of
aggression and is creating its own strait
management system, bypassing
Washington.
Source: MAX "avatkov"
___________________________
Tehran warns Europe over support for
US economic terrorism against Iran
September 7th, 11:29am
(PressTV)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman - has warned European
countries against following US sanctions on Iran, saying
Europe must choose ---- between complying with
Washington ---- and protecting its own
national and economic interests.
Speaking during his weekly press conference on Monday,
Esmail Baghaei was asked about the EU’s support for
US sanctions against Iran.
“Europe must make its own decision. Europe has already tried this
path: keeping the United States satisfied and complying with its
demands, both at the UN Security Council and at the IAEA
Board of Governors. The result has been the further
marginalization of Europe’s role,” he said.
He added that, under European regulations, compliance
with US secondary sanctions ---- is prohibited.
“Under what is known as the Blocking Statute, European
companies are not allowed to comply with these
sanctions, and European governments are
required --- to protect their companies
against US sanctions,” he added.
Baghaei described the EU statement as a clear
violation of international law -- as well as the
bloc’s own sovereignty and independence.
“If the European Union attaches any value to its credibility,
sovereignty, independence, national interests and
economic interests, it certainly should
not follow the United States in its
economic war against Iran,”
he noted.
IAEA used as a tool to exert political pressure
Responding to a question about efforts by the United States and
three European countries — France, Britain and Germany — to
pass a resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors that would
refer Iran’s nuclear file to the UN Security Council,
Baghaei said the draft resolution was based on
a report issued by the IAEA ....and its
director general.
“We have encountered this pattern
and this process before,” he said.
“Whenever they fall short in other areas, they turn to the IAEA
..and its director general. Or, conversely, the director general
himself puts himself forward, so that the European parties
and the United States can use him.... to exert political
pressure on Iran,” he said.
He also called their demands unreasonable, stressing
that the United States and Israel - are responsible
for the current situation.
“The reason the IAEA cannot access Iran’s nuclear centres
and facilities - is the crime committed by the US and the
Israeli regime ----- by attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
They themselves blocked this path & are now blaming
Iran for the IAEA’s inability....... to access its nuclear
facilities. This defeats the purpose,” Baghaei said.
The spokesperson also said Iran would take the necessary
measures in response to any ill-advised action by the
three European countries and the United States.
He added that Tehran had repeatedly advised the three
European countries - to learn from an Iranian lesson:
“Trying what has already been tried is a mistake.”
Washington initiated aggression, violated MoU
Asked about reports that the White House was seeking to
reach a new agreement with Iran concerning the Strait
of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program, Baghaei said
Iran had made its position clear from the outset
of the diplomatic process.
“When we reached an understanding on June 18, we very quickly
and clearly - included what we had in mind in that memorandum
of understanding. The problem is on the American side, which
violated all its commitments ....only 22 or 23 days after the
memorandum was signed,” he said.
“Therefore, if we use the familiar diplomatic expression, the ball
has long been in the American court, because they were both
the initiators of the military aggression - and the ones who
began violating the understanding they had signed.”
Iran’s actions in Strait of Hormuz are entirely defensive
Responding to the US claim that Iran had fired missiles at two US
warships and that attacks on Iranian oil tankers had been
carried out in retaliation, the spokesman for Iran’s
Foreign Ministry categorically rejected
the account.
“For a country that calls itself the greatest superpower in history,
resorting to such threats and attacking commercial vessels in
retaliation for what they themselves have acknowledged —
namely, Iran’s attack on their warship — is truly nothing
to be proud of,” he said.
He said Iran was in a defensive position due to
the continuation of the naval blockade and
economic warfare.
He added that Iran’s strikes against US military bases and warships
were carried out within the framework of its inherent right to self-
defense. “A right that is clearly enshrined in, and recognized by,
Article 51 of the United Nations Charter,” he said.
IRGC strikes 3 US-linked vessels, 3 trespassing
oil tankers in retaliation for American attacks
The IRGC Navy announces striking three United States-linked
vessels and three trespassing oil tankers in retaliation for
earlier American attacks on Iranian tankers.
Asked whether Iran 'genuinely intended' to prevent US ships
from transiting the Strait of Hormuz or was merely seeking
to pressure Washington, Baghaei said the insecurity in
the strait was a direct consequence of US actions.
“As long as this situation continues, it is fundamentally impossible to
speak of the Strait of Hormuz becoming secure. The problem - is not
Iran’s actions. The problem is the military aggression by the United
States and the Israeli regime, which is continuing in the form of a
naval blockade, an economic war and attacks on Iranian
commercial vessels,” he said.
Iran-Oman talks reach final stage
Regarding the latest status of negotiations with Oman, Baghaei
said Iran and Oman, as two littoral states, had begun serious
negotiations... to establish safe routes through the Strait
of Hormuz.
“We can now say that the negotiations between Iran and Oman
have reached the final stage. Most likely, within the coming
days, the understanding between Iran and Oman... on
establishing a temporary safe route through the
Strait of Hormuz will be registered with the
International Maritime Organization,”
Baghaei said.
He expressed hope that “some ill-intentioned parties”
would not interfere in the process and would allow it
to proceed reasonably and logically.
“As we have said before, the understanding between Iran
and Oman is a necessary condition for establishing
security along the transit routes of the Strait of
Hormuz, but it is not a sufficient condition,”
Baghaei said.
The spokesman stressed that insecurity in the Strait of
Hormuz was the result of US and Israeli military
aggression and that US aggression.....
was continuing.
“Therefore, as long as this situation continues, ships
cannot transit this route with confidence and a
sense of security,” he said.
Asked about repeated US attacks on civilians and
whether human rights bodies, including the UN
special rapporteur on human rights in Iran,
had taken a specific position on the
issue, Baghaei ----- slammed US
officials for dishonesty.
“American officials lie honestly, and
that in itself is an art,” he said.
“American officials -- know very well -- that one of the US
military tactics over the past 70 or 80 years -- has been
attacking civilian targets. When you reduce --- what is
referred to as ‘dynamic operations’ to indiscriminate
and aimless operations, resembling the actions of
the terrorist group Daesh, that itself, is a sign of
the moral decline of a system.”
Baghaei said the US attack on a wedding ceremony
was not an isolated incident. “This ---- was not
collateral damage; it was a deliberate act.”
“But we, as Iranians and the international community,
must not allow these crimes to simply become part
of history. We must continue to hold the United
States accountable.”
On September 1, the US military struck a wedding
ceremony in Kouhestak, a southern province of
Hormozgan. Five people, including two
children aged 4 and 16, were
killed in the attack.
_____________________________________
Israeli airstrikes across
southern Lebanon
kill 17, including
two infants
September 7th, 11:08am
(PressTV)
At least 17 people... including two infants, have lost their lives
and another 20 sustained injuries, in Israeli airstrikes across
southern Lebanon over the past 48 hours --------- as Israel
continues its daily violations of a US-brokered
framework agreement.
According to Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA),
Israeli warplanes struck a three-story residential building in
Kafr Rouman town of the Nabatieh governorate, after
midnight, destroying it.
Emergency teams recovered nine bodies, including those of
two infants, from the rubble, while five people were injured.
Separately, an Israeli drone targeted a civilian vehicle in
the same Lebanese town, killing two paramedics
affiliated with the Islamic Risala Scout
Association who were inside.
Israeli warplanes also carried out a series of strikes on
Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Arabsalim areas, where a
house was destroyed.
Moreover, Israeli warplanes destroyed a building in the town of Deir
al-Zahrani. The Israeli army had earlier issued an evacuation order.
Intl. community urged to stop relentless Israeli aggression
Lebanese Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Fadi Makki,
has called upon the international community and freedom-loving
peoples worldwide to take effective action aimed at ending
Israel’s relentless aggression and its violations of
Lebanon’s sovereignty.
“How long will this aggression against the south and its people
continue? How long will Lebanon and its nation have to pay
the price?” Makki said, criticizing the continued Israeli
attacks on southern Lebanon.
He said that civilians, including women and children, are being
massacred in various southern Lebanon towns and villages,
including Mayfadoun, Ramadiyeh, Nabatieh and Arabsalim,
and residential buildings as well as civilian infrastructure
are being destroyed.
“The height of the barbarity and vileness of the Israeli military
was the strike on Salah Ghandour Hospital” in the southern
town of Bint Jbeil just a few days ago, Makki noted.
In recent days... Israeli assaults on southern Lebanon have
escalated since the Israeli army’s claim that it intercepted
a drone, purportedly launched by Hezbollah targeting its
troops in what Tel Aviv designates as a “security zone”
in southern Lebanon.
The strikes occur despite a US-sponsored framework
agreement between the Beirut government and the
Tel Aviv regime that was signed on June 26.
The agreement outlines a gradual withdrawal of Israeli
forces from Lebanese territory in return for the
deployment of the Lebanese army.
The secretary-general of the Lebanese resistance movement,
Sheikh Naim Qassem, has dismissed the agreement as
illegitimate, unlawful, and humiliating.
Hezbollah launched military operations against Israel
on March 2, in response to the US-Israeli aggression
against Iran, repeated Israeli violations of the 2024
ceasefire, and Israel’s continued occupation of
Lebanese territory in the south.
Since then, despite months of negotiations, Israel has
continued its military offensive against Lebanon and
has killed 4,362 people and wounded 12,378 others,
and displaced more than 1 million, according to
the Lebanese authorities.
Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, which
includes areas it has usurped for decades alongside regions
taken during the 2023-2024 war. Moreover, its troops have
advanced beyond 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory
--- in the course of the current offensive.
___________________________________________
Gaza-bound flotilla......
prepares new mission
Bilbao, Spain, September 7th, 8:31am
(Prensa Latina)
Freedom Flotilla Heading to Gaza --- announced today that it
is preparing a new mission to "break the blockade ------- and
denounce the genocide suffered by the Palestinian people.''
In fact, the group, now made up of a dozen crew members,
said at a press conference from the ship docked in Bilbao,
that it will depart this Tuesday on a tour... to incorporate
new members to the initiative.
"We sail to put pressure on our governments --- which are the ones
who have the tools to stop Israel," picking up the "global outcry,"
they commented.
In reality, the deployment of the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza will be
done in October and again, they will assume the risk of further
arrests and violence by Israel, as has happened previously.
The boat arrived last Saturday in Bizkaia, where it received
an emotional welcome and took the opportunity to carry
out several activities such as a cycling march, a
conference and a concert.
This Tuesday it will head to Vigo, Galicia, at the beginning of a
journey that they hope to complete in October, with the idea
of adding followers in different ports.
The American Elisabeth Murray, one member of the Flotilla,
accompanied by Frank Romano and Sandra Barrilaro, the
collaborator of the Ana Cascón and the representative
of Ongi Etorri Errefuxiatuak of the Basque Country --
Aintzane Cámara, spoke to journalists.
Since 2010 --- and almost uninterruptedly every year, the Freedom
Flotilla has made its journeys to - "denounce and break the illegal
blockade of Gaza", which is "a collective punishment of an entire
population, more than two million people, at this time -- in Gaza".
Barrilero claimed the need for this initiative which, he remarked, is
not "a humanitarian mission", but seeks to "break and denounce
the blockade of Gaza, the decades-long occupation of Palestine,
the ethnic cleansing that has been exercised on the population
of Palestine for decades and at this time also the genocide".
"We are sailing doing the work that our governments should do. It is
a shame.. that the civilian population has been taking to the streets
for three years and carrying out a lot of actions to demand that our
governments stop Israel, and they are not doing it," he denounced.