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Lānaʻi is the exact same size as Gaza. That's where the similarities end.
Lānaʻi's population is 3,500 people. Gaza's population is 2.3 million, with 1.5 million currently crammed into Rafah.
Israel has been committing genocide against a population of refugees, who have been living in an open-air prison the size of Lānaʻi. Tens of thousands have been killed; the rest are slowly starving to death.
The international Freedom Flotilla Coalition will attempt to break the siege and deliver thousands of pounds of desperately needed aid. I'll be a crewmember on one of the boats, alongside fellow Veterans for Peace-Hawai'i member, Ann Wright.
I'm aware of the risks involved, but also of the unwarranted power te West allocates to my whiteness. The response to the recent attack on World Central Kitchen staff proves this.
I'm forever grateful for my wife's support. Bahar understands the importance of this mission. I understand and appreciate how difficult this is for her. Aside from being alone with our two energetic baby boys, she's the daughter of life-long activists who've sacrificed more than I can even imagine. I hate to put her through the uncertainty of these next few weeks, but I hate the genocide more.
Omid is saying more words every day. Azad is just starting to crawl. I don't want to miss a few hours with our boys, much less weeks, but I know they are safe, healthy and surrounded by love.
The same can't be said for the children of Gaza, where over 15,000 have been killed since October.
Jayson Mizula
Kaunakakai, Molokai