WHILE ISRAEL BRANDS IT AS ‘TERRORISM’, GENOA DOCKWORKERS THREATEN MASS ACTION SHOULD THE FLOTILLA BE INTERCEPTED ~ Santiago Navarro F, Avispa Midia ~ As the Sumud Flotilla sails through the Mediterranean, Israel’s stance has been swift, threatening to label its crew, from more than 44 countries, as terrorists and to arrest and imprison them. Following these threats, Italian dockworkers in the port of Genoa have warned that if they lose contact with the flotilla for even 20 minutes, they will block the departure of 14,000 containers of merchandise to Israel. The flotilla of over 50 boats set sail on Sunday (30 August) from Barcelona, carrying trade unionists, doctors, parliamentarians, and activists such as American actress Susan Sarandon and Portuguese actress Sofía Aparicio, as well as Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was detained and deported last June while attempting to break the Gaza blockade with the then-called Freedom Flotilla. Their objective is threefold: to deliver aid directly, to break the media and political isolation of Gaza, and to denounce to the world what they describe as a “genocidal war” and an “illegal siege”. Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians and injured more than 157,000. Meanwhile, it continues to systematically obstruct the entry of food and humanitarian aid into the enclave. “It’s unfortunate that we have to do it ourselves; that we have to load ships with humanitarian aid to try to break the blockade and stop the genocide”, said Saif Abukeshek, a spokesperson for the flotilla, who was detained by Egypt last June during the Global March for Gaza. “We’re not just announcing the mission itself, but the building of a global solidarity movement that works with all oppressed peoples”, he explained. Abukeshek speaking in Barcelona. Photos: Albert Hernández Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned that activists travelling aboard the flotilla will be subjected to prolonged detention and will be denied privileges. “We will not allow people who support terrorism to live in comfort. They will face the full consequences of their actions”, Ben-Gvir said. Responding from Genoa, Riccardo Rudino, representative of the Autonomous Committee of Stevedores (CALP), issued an ultimatum in a video warning that if contact with the fleet is lost for even 20 minutes, “we will block Europe”. He also emphatically stated that “not a single nail will come out. We will go on an international strike, block roads, and block schools”. In Genoa alone, more than 300 tons of humanitarian aid were collected prior to the flotilla’s departure. This cargo was sent to the port of Catania and distributed to Italian ships that will join the humanitarian voyage. The voyage is planned to last seven to eight days. Strict security and discretion measures have been implemented, mindful of previous experiences with Israeli repression. This year has already seen two bitter precedents: the Madleen, with Thunberg on board, and the Handala, which were intercepted in June and July respectively by drone attacks and boarded by Israeli commandos in international waters. Their passengers were beaten, kidnapped, deported, and had their phones confiscated. Despite the drone overflights of the vessels near the coasts of Mallorca and Menorca, which the Flotilla has reported, they continue on their way to Gaza. The vessels advance each day toward their destination, with actions in different countries taking place at all times, ranging from words of encouragement to the addition of more vessels and people. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edited machine translation The post Sumud flotilla heads to Gaza “to break the blockade and stop the genocide” appeared first on Freedom News.

SOUTHERN EUROPE OFFERS US FOOD FOR THOUGHT WHILE NEW NEW LABOUR FAILS TO SURPRISE— AND REFORM IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION As ever, Spain is showing us how to do things when it comes to eviction resistance, while context is key to understand the ongoing anger over mass uproar related to the sidelining of action on rail safety in Greece. In Britain the JSO 16 case is an important litmus test of how confident the “centrist” State feels in locking up direct actionists in the face of the valid political positions, while Rosebank and Heathrow showcase the absolute lack of ideas behind Rachael Reeves’ “growth agenda”. And we round off with thoughts on the Reform polls surge. After this, our shows will be going out on Wednesdays rather than Tuesdays! The post Anarchist News Review: Spain evictions, Greek protests, and UK climate politics appeared first on Freedom News.

LIVE-STREAMED MOBILISATION CONTINUES IN LATEST BATTLE AGAINST GENTRIFICATION ~ Blade Runner ~ The planned eviction of tenants at Casa Orsola was temporarily halted this weekend after large-scale resistance by housing groups, residents, and local supporters. The judicial committee responsible for executing the eviction arrived at the site on Saturday but ultimately left without enforcing the order, citing the overwhelming presence of protesters and media. However, a new eviction date has already been announced for tomorrow morning (4 February) at 5am. Over the past year, tenants and supporters have resisted multiple eviction attempts at Casa Orsola, organising community mobilisations, legal battles, and direct action to protect residents from displacement. The latest eviction order targeted five flats, but the broader objective of the investment firm is to clear the entire building. The 27-unit residential building in Esquerra de l’Eixample neighbourhood has become a focal point in the fight against gentrification and mass evictions. In 2021, a real estate investment firm purchased the building, seeking to evict long-term tenants in order to convert the apartments into high-priced, short-term tourist rentals—a trend that has transformed the city’s housing market and displaced thousands of local residents in recent years. By early morning, hundreds of people had gathered to block the eviction, forming human barricades and occupying the building. The crowd included not only experienced activists and housing organisers but many ordinary residents. Tenants and supporters live-streamed the situation from inside and outside the building, and media coverage intensified. The Sindicat de Llogateres, Barcelona’s leading tenants’ union, has been at the forefront of the fight to defend the residents, combining the tactics of the Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH)—a grassroots movement against mortgage evictions—with methods rooted in anarcho-syndicalism. The residents and union have called for live-streamed resistance to continue this morning, with defensive organising to mobilise supporters before tomorrow’s 5am deadline, and community activities such as performances, discussions and food sharing through the night. A DECADE OF RESISTANCE The defence of Casa Orsola is part of a long history of housing struggles in Spain. Resistance against gentrification and speculative real estate development has repeatedly flared up in Barcelona and across the country, at times erupting into major uprisings. In the Burgos uprising of 2014, residents of the working-class neighbour of Gamonal fought against a government-backed plan to gentrify their district by constructing a high-end boulevard. When police cracked down on protests, the neighbourhood erupted in four nights of rioting, during which residents destroyed banks, fought police, and blockaded the construction site. The local government ultimately cancelled the gentrification project. In the same year, Barcelona witnessed the Can Vies revolt, when a 17-year-old squatted social centre was forcibly evicted by police. What began as a protest quickly escalated into a week-long urban revolt involving tens of thousands of people. Police stations were attacked, barricades were erected, and banks were smashed as demonstrators forced authorities to abandon their plans.  The revolt and its decisive victory also spread radical critiques of urban planning, mass tourism, and housing speculation, further fuelling anti-gentrification movements in Spain and internationally. With Barcelona increasingly resembling a “tourist circus” rather than a livable city for locals, many people—regardless of their previous involvement in social struggles and direct action—are joining efforts to resist corporate-driven evictions. This growing frustration has been nurtured by years of grassroots organising by groups like the PAH, the Sindicat de Llogateres, as well as local neighbourhood groups, which have built strong networks of solidarity and direct action. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photos and videos: Directa The post Barcelona: Mass resistance to eviction at Casa Orsola appeared first on Freedom News.