GREECE – Events begin to progress rapidly, as the international game of cat and mouse that has become the Freedom Flotilla II now enters a phase of rapid action. One year of planning, both on the side of those wanting to peacefully deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and on the side of those eager to keep the illegal blockade of Gaza in place, are now coming to fruition. For the moment, each side appears to be scoring victories.

The Irish boat, MV Saoirse, joins the French boat Dignite – Al Karama, as the first two Freedom Flotilla boats to set sail. Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore continues to be the most outspoken of global politicians against the illegal blockade of Gaza, earlier this week calling the blockade of Gaza “unjust and counterproductive”, and last year's murder of 9 Turkish nationals aboard the Mavi Marmara “completely unacceptable and unjustified”.

The American boat, The Audacity of Hope has been slapped with a lawsuit by a thinly-veiled legal spawn of the IDF, known as the Israel Law Centre. The lawsuit questions the Audacity's seaworthiness, and with a rolling 48 hour strike rocking Athens, for the moment the Audacity sits in harbour.

More troubling, but viewed as just as temporary a setback, is the acknowledged sabotage of a joint Greek, Swedish, and Norwegian ship in Piraeus Port. Swedish steering committee member Dror Feiler yesterday told Israeli newspaper 'Haaretz' that the ship's propeller shaft was cut off, that the act was clearly sabotage, and that this act violates Greek sovereignty. Again, the 48 hour strike in Greece hampers attempts at repair, but steering committee members estimate the repairs to be easily fixable.

As for the Canadian boat, the Tahrir was today loaded with over $30,000 worth of medicine. The unloading of the medicine was witnessed by a team of three international medical professionals, who themselves will be aboard the Tahrir in an activist-medical capacity.

“The medications were ordered by doctors in Gaza.” says Dr. Bashar el-Sohl, a physician from Montreal. “We are carrying medications for heart patients, for lung disease, for people who are suffering from asthma, people with anxiety problems, anti-depressant medications. We have as well medications for high-blood pressure, for cholesterol, for arrhythmia. Those medications have been in shortage in Gaza and its been hard for the doctors there to bring them in, particularly because they are a little bit costly.”

The Tahrir was also slapped with a notice of inspection today, brought forth from a "private citizen". Steering committee members David Heap and Stephane Corriveau assured the press today that they while they were not expecting this, they were “expecting something like this”, and that all their papers are in order.

“Yesterday, late afternoon, some people in authority here showed up at our boat and requested to make a full inspection because they had been tipped that the boat might not be seaworthy.” says Corriveau. “So they had to make a thorough inspection to see if we were seaworthy or not. Late afternoon today we got the report of that inspection, and basically, to simplify, everything is fine. Our boat is absolutely qualified to go at sea. We have all the papers, the authorization, the inspections, the safety equipment, the communications, everything. The boat has been under complete sonar inspection of the hull.”

“We knew they were going to try to put hurdles in our way, so we were prepared, when they came.” continues Coriveau. “We didn't know when they would show up with those kind of problems, but we were ready for those kinds of situations. So we dealt with it in a very swift manner and we are quite happy with the result.”

On a lighter note, Queers Against Israeli Apartheid activist, and noted filmmaker, John Greyson, laid to rest the IDF-circulated rumour that the Freedom Flotilla had an anti-gay agenda in its selection of peaceful activists.

“Its the most completely stupid thing I've heard! Queers Against Israeli Apartheid would be really surprised to hear that queers aren't allowed on the Flotilla, because I'm here, Manon's here [Manon Masse, renowned queer peace activist from Quebec], and who knows about the rest of us? And by the time the voyage is over there may be more!”

Members of the Tahrir remain ready to set 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.