Peace activists sailing to Gaza with the Global Sumud Flotilla reported Wednesday evening that Israeli naval ships had begun intercepting vessels in their fleet and arresting flotilla members. On Tuesday, just hours before the flotilla entered the “high-risk zone” near the shores of Gaza, Marc Steiner spoke with Phillip Tottenham and Jessica Coltfelter, two US Marine Corps veterans sailing with the flotilla. In this episode of The Marc Steiner Show, Tottenham and Coltfelter discuss why they, as veterans, felt compelled to join this humanitarian mission, and what message they wanted to share with the world in the event of their capture—or worse—by Israel.

Guest:

Philip Tottenham is a US Marine Corps veteran, a member of Veterans For Peace, and a peace and human rights activist.
Jessica Coltfelter, is a US Marine Corps veteran (2008-2012) who served as security detail for Presidential Helicopter Squadron Marine One and, upon End of Active Service, worked as a defense contractor for Triple Canopy. Refusing to perpetuate imperialism, Coltfelter became an activist, educator, and an anti-fascist librarian serving rural and marginalized communities in pursuit of mindful liberation.

Additional resources:

Global Sumud Flotilla website, TikTok, and Instagram
Ephrat Livni and Liam Stack, The New York Times, “Israel intercepts boats headed to Gaza with humanitarian aid”
Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network,”‘If I’m killed on this mission…’: Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail for Gaza despite Israel’s threats”
Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “Why US veterans are sailing to Gaza with the Global Sumud Flotilla”

Credits:

Producer: Rosette Sewali
Studio Production: Cameron Granadino
Audio Post-Production: Stephen Frank

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US veterans’ final message from the Global Sumud Flotilla before being intercepted by Israel