Date/Time
Date(s) - 08/20/2023
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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Categories

• Documentary

Cost:
0.00 USD
Contact Person:
Steven Lapham
Email:
vfhlonlinefilmsalon@gmail.com
Website:
http://www.voicesfromtheholyland.org
Phone:
240-418-7628
Organization:
Voices From the Holy Land

The Freedom Flotilla sails for Gaza. On Sunday, August 20, 2023, join a panel discussion about “The Truth: LOST at SEA,” at 3:00pm ET. Register at Tinyurl.com/VFHL-August2023 to see the documentary free at your convenience. Then join the Voices From the Holy Land Online Film Salon.

ABSTRACT: In May 2010, an international flotilla of eight unarmed civilian vessels, representing six countries (including the U.S.), defied Israel’s complete naval blockade to deliver much-needed construction materials and humanitarian aid to Gaza. Under the cover of darkness, the most powerful military force in the Middle East dispatched heavily armed commandos via speedboats and helicopters to seize the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the tragic deaths of nine activists.
“The Truth: LOST at SEA” presents authentic footage and narration by a survivor to reveal the factual sequence of events, shedding light on how traditional and online media platforms manipulated and vilified human rights advocates who dedicated themselves to raising awareness about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

PANELISTS AND MODERATOR:
Rifat Audeh is a Palestinian Canadian filmmaker, freelance journalist, and human rights activist. He’s worked as an interpreter assisting Physicians for Human Rights and countless UN agencies. Rifat participated in the 2010 Freedom Flotilla and was injured during the IDF’s attack upon it. The experience became the subject of his dissertation and his award-winning documentary, The Truth: LOST at SEA. Rifat holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ryerson University and a Master’s degree in Media and Journalism at Newcastle University in the UK.

Ann Wright, a former U.S. State Department diplomat who served 16 years on four continents, was one of three diplomats who resigned in 2003 in opposition to the war on Iraq. Ann also served 29 years in the U.S. Army and Reserves, primarily in Special Operations units, retiring as colonel. She is a member of Veterans For Peace and a co-author of Dissent: Voices of Conscience. Ann was on the 2010 Freedom Flotilla, trying to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, when Israeli troops attacked the ships. Ann was also on the 2015 and 2016 Gaza Freedom Flotillas and served on the ground crews for the 2018 and 2023 flotillas.

Awni Farhat, born and raised in Jabalia Camp, Gaza Strip, has been a project coordinator with the Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (PCDCR). Awni has been living in the Netherlands for 6 years, earning a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Conflict Studies, and now working with an international Dutch Development nonprofit. For two years, Awni was the Products and Endorsements Coordinator for the international Freedom Flotilla project, Gaza’s Ark. He participated in the 2018 Flotilla “For a Just Future for Palestine,” and was on board the 2023 Gaza Freedom Flotilla this year from Scotland to Liverpool.

Alex McDonald (moderator) is an American who grew up in Europe, traveled to Palestine, and wrote two books on the language used to support Israel’s narrative: How I Learned to Speak Israel: An American’s Guide to a Foreign Policy Language and When They Speak Israel: A Guide to Clarity in Conversations about Israel. Alex is involved in changing how Israel and Palestine are taught in U.S. schools and serves on the steering committee of Voices From the Holy Land. As a Freedom Flotilla participant, he was crew on Mairead in 2018, and sailed from Norway to the U.K. on Handala in 2023.

The August salon is co-sponsored by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.