Midnight On The Mavi Marmara: The Attack On The Gaza Freedom Flotilla And How It Changed The Course Of The Israel/Palestine Conflict

This panel will discuss the much-awaited volume edited by author Moustafa Bayoumi on the attack of the Mavi Marmara of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla as it sailed through international waters attempting to bring humanitarian relief to the beleaguered Palestinians of Gaza on May 31, 2010. Within minutes, nine peace activists were dead, shot by the Israelis. Scores of others were injured. Within hours, outrage at Israel’s action echoed around the world. Spontaneous demonstrations occurred in Europe, the United States, Turkey, and Gaza itself to denounce the attack. Turkey’s prime minister described it as a “bloody massacre” and “state terrorism.”

Midnight on the Mavi Marmara invites activists, journalists, and analysts to piece together the events that occurred that night. Mixing together first-hand testimony and documentary record with hard-headed analysis and historical overview, Midnight on the Mavi Marmara questions master narratives of the mainstream news, and forwards the importance of witnessing and alternative methods of media. During the event, we will screen a clip from footage taken by activist filmmaker Iara Lee during the attack of the Mavi Marmara. The round table with leading thinkers and writers will discuss the power of public opinion to open up avenues of communication and its potentiality and place in international politics.