This fundraiser is in support of the Veteran-led boat in the greater Sumud Flotilla. There has been a funding shortfall with regards to the US delegation, and we have been advised by leadership to launch this lightning fundraising campaign for our individual boat. All excess donations will be sent to other boats in the US delegation and the Chuff Fund for the Flotilla as a whole.
Mission Statement:
Gaza has been under an illegal siege by sea, land and air for 18 years broadly documented and condemned by international law. Our objective now is to challenge this violation through a coordinated humanitarian nonviolent direct action of several simultaneous boats and break this siege, delivering all the aid we can carry and creating a humanitarian corridor that countries and international organizations and institutions that are not complicit with this genocide can finally use to provide all the aid that the Palestinian people need at the moment.
As military veterans in the movement, it is our role to lead from the front and use our status and privilege to challenge genocidal propaganda that manufactures consent for further violence. We are not terrorists, and neither is anyone else in this movement.
There is a concern that if the flotilla runs the blockade and lands in Gaza, there will be a repeat of the World Central Kitchen strike. It is our intention to wage an information war against Israeli military propaganda to preempt this action and make it politically non-viable simply by calling it out. We believe our presence will make the flotilla safer as a whole.
What Are the Funds For?
- International travel and accommodations in port for veterans taking one month off of work to support this endeavor. As working people, without assistance this operation becomes unviable.
- Equipment for the boat. Each boat will have an inventory of humanitarian aid, but since some of these vessels were procured at the last moment they will require addition medical, communication, and logistical equipment. I have been informed that we will be responsible for logistical short-falls.
- Contributions to the greater Sumud Fund. Again, any excess donations will go to the US delegation, and in the event that this whole thing falls apart, directly to aid organizations like the PCRF.
How Does This Work?
Due to time constraints we are forced to use spotfund, which is far less professional than other platforms. To that end, I have created a bank account simply for this operation. All donation funds will go into this account and be distributed from this account. We will collect receipts for plane flights, lodging and mission-related expenses such as burner phones, which will be released along with this account's bank statement at the termination of operations.
Apologies, but that is the best I can do at such short notice with regards to transparency and trustworthiness. I suppose all I have to go on is my reputation, which I dearly want to protect.
We thank you all for your support.
