Al-Qalam 
South African Palestine activist Dr Fatima Hendricks shares her thoughts and expectations as her boat sails steadily towards the shores of Gaza. Ismail Suder interviewed her.
Cape Town occupational therapist, Dr Fatima Hendricks, who is sailing towards Gaza in a “flotilla” convoy with 12 other activists, says she dreams of “seeing the shores of Gaza and engaging in a language of tears with my Palestinian comrades.
“It is a language of deep love and affection from the tip of Africa to the Gulf of Victory,” she added.
Speaking from the boat, Hendricks, who is a member of Healthcare Workers 4 Palestine South Africa, told Al-Qalam that she joined the flotilla to break the siege of Gaza in a direct nonviolent action.
The boats are carrying much-needed food aid and baby formula for the disparate people of the enclave who are systematically being starved to death. The first boats are expected to reach the shores of Gaza in about a week.
Asked what goes through her mind as her boat steadily sails towards the shores of Gaza, Hendricks said she thinks about Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the eve of Badr, where the Muslims were 313 against a mighty army.
“We are 40 little fragile boats against the mightiest occupying power in the world. Yet the people sail. The Palestinian people have stood against the mightiest army in the world with their voices, their slingshots and stones”, she said.
Hendricks said her fellow activists on the boat are from South Africa, Algeria and Ireland. All the boats are carrying much-needed food aid and baby formula for the disparate people of the enclave who are systematically being starved to death.
Al-Qalam asked what meals were being served on board. She said everyone had to prepare their own food, just enough to sustain them.
“We prep our own meals such as tuna, pasta, and boiled eggs. Simple food and small portions – Gaza is starving!”
A few nights ago, a storm at sea caused the boat to rock violently, but the captain assured them that it was going to be okay, although a few passengers suffered seasickness.
“Some crew members experienced sea sickness but for most it’s settled by now. We have two medical doctors on board, and myself as an occupational therapist, so from a health and wellbeing perspective we are in good spirits.”
Hendricks pointed out that there were now five South Africans sailing across three flotilla boats including Nkosi Mandla Mandela – two other SA activists who recently joined the flotilla are Palestine activists “Zukiswa & Reaaz.”
On her Instagram page, Hendricks has posted many videos showcasing everyday life aboard, cleaning, cooking, washing clothes and making wudu with sea water – and giving important messages as to why peaceful resistance to the occupation was important.
Meanwhile, back home, the Global Movement to Gaza-SA said in a statement that the resistance of Palestinians against Apartheid and settler colonialism resonates with the majority of South Africans, “as we hold dear the fight for freedom, human rights and justice.
Feroza Mayet, one of the spokespersons for the Global Movement to Gaza-SA, said that resistance to the “Zionist Project” was gaining momentum across the globe, adding that millions of people are marching across major cities in the world calling on their governments to end the Genocide.
“The resistance of Palestinians against Apartheid and settler colonialism resonates with the majority of South Africans as we hold dear the fight for freedom, human rights and justice.”
In Gaza, videos after videos show children singing praises for the 40-boat flotilla heading to their shores. In one video, a child, when asked what she would like from the boats, she replied excitedly: “I want chocolates and toys”
