At the time of writing, Athens has descended into a state of chaos. Clashes between protesters and riot police have turned violent, and the People's Assembly of Syndagma Square reports that over 500 protestors will be transported to hospital “with respiratory problems, traumatic brain injuries, and heart attacks.” Reports also circulate of riot police attacking a first aid station, metro stations, and tear gas has blanketed entire sections of the city, including the tourist section of Monastiraki.

Amidst this extremely serious situation, the IDF yesterday floated the completely unfounded story that some activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla II were planning to use chemical weapons against IDF soldiers. In particular, the articles quotes an unknown source who claims that activists are hatching a plot to pour sacks of sulphur onto IDF commandos if/when they board, which might then be “lit up like a torch.”

Stephan Corriveau, of the Canadian Boat to Gaza steering committee, flatly refutes the allegations.

“As far as I'm concerned, after three days aboard the boat, the only chemical weapons on board will be my armpits.” says Corriveau. “We want to say without a doubt, without a shade, or possibility to misquote, that there are no chemicals aboard any of the boats.”

There have also been allegations, including from an article from a Danish member of the media reporting with the Canadian Boat team, that some participants are perhaps less committed than others to non-violence and peaceful activism. That the Danish reporter suggests that these elements also happen to be the Muslim participants aboard the boat smacks of sensationalist racism, and as far as this reporter's observations are concerned, is completely unfounded.

“We are not MOSSAD.” says steering committee member David Heap. “I will not dig into people's history since the birth of their grandparents. Everybody aboard this boat had to have been endorsed by individuals, well-known people, and none of the people aboard this boat are newcomers to the peaceful social movement. People aboard the Tahrir have a long track record of campaigning for bettering the social agenda. We do have different political agendas, but this is a strength. This is not about Russia in 1917, or the USA in 2011. What brings us together is the illegal blockade of Gaza. We have different ethnicities, politics, religions, but we are all towards one common goal.”

Karen DeVito, aboard the boat as a peace activist, agrees.

"What was said (in the negative article) was 'Middle-Eastern looking'. As though 'this one looks Canadian. And this one doesn't.' That's very deceptive, because you can be wrong about these things."

The Tahrir is ready to sail at a moment's notice.

Miles will be reporting regularly to the Halifax Media Co-op from the Canadian Boat to Gaza. Visit Dispatches from the Tahrir for updates.