Christine Ödlund （Swedish, b. 1963）

Some of my very best friends in the world right now are sailing with the Global Sumud Flotilla. I know it’s a drop in the bucket in the realm of all the work that needs to be done, but this humanitarian mission is one of a kind and its personnel really are the best of all of us.

I need—like actually need, please—for you to take a few minutes to reach out to your elected representatives, be they municipal, state, or federal, to ask them to speak up on behalf of the people of the GSF and its mission. Please.

They are my beloved friends and I need them to be safe; and they need to fulfill their humanitarian goals. The people of Palestine need them. The people of Gaza need the IOF to know the world’s eyes are on their sovereign waters. It will never be enough until the moment in which it is.

Members of the GSF—and my dear friends—have been abducted by the IDF in the international waters in the Mediterranean in an act of piracy and violation of international law. For privacy reasons, I cannot share names, scripts, or my own suggestions for calling reps in the US.

However, I can ask you all to please contact your embassy of national origin in Greece to ask for aid for incapacitated GSF sailors in and near Greek sovereign waters. Many vessels’ communications have been jammed or cut, and some vessels have been directly commandeered by militants.

From GSF: “We call on all National Delegations, Friends & Family, and Palestine supports to contact the Greek government and Greek embassies in your home country to request their support and assistance in ensuring the safety of the flotilla and its participants.”

I can also share the below communications from GSF about how to contact federal representatives.

You may familiarize yourself with some of the brave humanitarians and mariners of the flotilla at @humansofgsf on Instagram, and use their names and stories to call federal reps.

GSF GUIDELINES

From any district/State:

“Hi, I’m a constituent from (City, Zip) calling on the senator/representative to make apublic statement denouncing the illegal interception and boarding of a civilian flotilla in international waters and illegal detainment of American Citizens [Including my friend/sister/father______ ]. I ask for the senator/representative to demand their immediate unconditional release. Even though these constituents are not in the Senator/Rep’s district, they are still able to call for the safety of all US Citizens abroad.

Additionally, I ask that the Senator do everything in their power to end the genocide in Gaza including supporting any legislation that would block weapons and funds to Israel; and to vote always in accordance with the Leahy Law.”

From the Delegate’s Same District/State

“Hi, I’m a constituent from (City, Zip) calling on behalf of their constituent ________. They have been illegally intercepted in international waters and detained while on a humanitarian mission. I’m calling on Rep/Senator _______ to make a public statement denouncing this treatment, and to ask them to work for their constituents immediate unconditional release.

Additionally, I ask that the Represenative/Senator do everything in their power to end the genocide in Gaza including the Block the Bombs Act and voting against any legislation that would further arm or fund Israel.”