Zue Jernstedt on the Sumud Flotilla, Aid to Gaza, and Veteran Activism

The Sumud Flotilla Mission

• 🚢 Zue Jernstedt, a former Army soldier and member of About Face: Veterans Against the War, is participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza.
• ⛵ Jernstedt is on a 14-meter sailboat called the OILA, part of the US veterans' contingent, with a mix of Americans and international volunteers.
• 🗺️ The journey began in Barcelona, and after 30 days at sea, they are now under 200 nautical miles from Gaza.

Attacks and Rhetoric Shifts

• 💥 The flotilla has faced multiple attacks, including ordinance being dropped on docked boats in Tunisia and a direct strike on their vessel that damaged sails and injured a crew member.
• 🗣️ Jernstedt notes a shift in Israeli rhetoric from calling the flotilla a "selfie cruise" to a "terrorist flotilla" or "Hamas flotilla," which she interprets as an attempt to justify potential harm.
• 🇪🇸 European naval support, specifically from Italy and Spain, has been minimal, with only the Spanish vessel continuing without offering material assistance.

Aid and Strategy

• 🥫 The vessel carries essential supplies including baby formula, powdered milk, lentils, crackers, gauze, and saline solution, intended as a symbolic amount of aid to highlight the need for more.
• 🌊 The primary goal is not to land in Gaza but to hand off aid directly to Palestinians and facilitate the opening of a humanitarian corridor for larger aid shipments.
• 🤝 The flotilla is an international mission of conscience, with participants from 45 nations, hoping to pressure nation-states to engage and open the corridor.

Veteran Perspective and Activism

• 🇺🇸 Jernstedt, a former US soldier, describes a shift in perspective after serving in Afghanistan, realizing the common humanity of the people there and questioning the nature of the US as an empire.
• 🕊️ The veteran boat crew is prepared for detention, refusing to sign documents in Hebrew and asserting their adherence to international humanitarian law.
• 📢 Jernstedt urges US politicians to stop sending bombs, support the flotilla, and prioritize their citizens, calling inaction on the genocide a sign of profound evil.

Supporting the Cause

• 📣 Those who wish to support can post about the flotilla, contact representatives, and share information via vetsaboutface.org.
• 💰 Direct monetary support to individuals in Gaza is encouraged over donations to charities, to help purchase essential items like food and tents.
• 🚀 For those with relevant skills (sailing, medical, media), joining future flotillas or the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the West Bank is recommended.