Israeli Piracy and murder at sea
Last night, Armed Israeli Pirates attacked and boarded the Turkish passenger ship, Mavi Marmara , the lead ship in a convoy of six vessels carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza while they were still in international waters, 75 miles off the coast of Israel, in direct violation of international law.
The Israeli Pirates began shooting at the unarmed civilian passengers who were asleep on the deck, they continued firing long after the captain had hoisted a white flag indicating that the ships crew and passengers were not offering any resistance to Israel’s high seas piracy.
Al Jazeera reporter Jamal Elshayyal who was on board the Mavi Marmara sent this report before communications were cut by the israeli military, watch the video here
The convoy of six ships left international waters off the coast of Cyprus on yesterday and was expected to arrive in Gaza later on today.
The Israel military had said it would stop the boats, calling the Free Gaza humanitarian aid campaign a “provocation intended to delegitimise Israel”.
Since 2007 the state of Israel with the aid of the Government of Egypt has imposed a total blockade on the borders of the Palestinian tterritory of of Gaza which is causing immense suffering and hardship.
While the Israel says it allows about 15,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid into Gaza every week because of the Israeli imposed delays in transit much of these goods are spoiled and rotted by the time they reach Gaza and even UN says this is less than a quarter of what is needed.
As usual the Rogue terrorist Israeli state Armed forces blame their victims stating that when their soldiers boarded they were met with resistance, one of whom grabbed a soldier’s gun, Israeli military spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich stated ironically “The people on the boats were very, very violent toward the soldiers.”
Many of of the civilians on board the boats were Turkish citizens and the Government of Turkey has said it “strongly condemn these inhumane practices of Israel, the Israeli ambassador was been summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry and in Istanbul overnight protesters tried to storm the Israeli consulate, in a similar move the Greek Government met last night in emergency session to respond to the incidents and the Israeli Ambassador was summoned to explain his Governments actions
The coalition of Free Gaza Movement, European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza, IHH Insan Yardim Vak the Perdana Global Peace Organisation , Ship to Gaza Greece, Ship to Gaza Sweden, and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza appeal to the international community to demand that Israel stop their brutal attack on civilians delivering vitally needed aid to the imprisoned Palestinians of Gaza and permit the ships to continue on their way.
May 31st, 2010 at 1:45 pm
PRESS RELEASE
GAZA, PALESTINE
31.MAY.2010
CALL FROM GAZA FOR GLOBAL RESPONSE TO KILLINGS ON THE FREEDOM FLOTILLA
We Gaza based Palestinian Civil Society Organizations and International activists call on the international community and civil society to pressure their governments and Israel to cease the abductions and killings in Israel’s attacks against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla sailing for Gaza, and begin a global response to hold Israel accountable for the murder of foreign civilians at sea and illegal piracy of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza.
We salute the courage of all those who have organized this aid intervention and demand a safe passage through to Gaza for the 750 people of conscience from 40 different countries including 35 international politicians intent on breaking the Israeli-Egyptian blockade. We offer our sincerest condolences to family and friends who have lost loved ones in the attack.
By sailing directly to Gaza, outside of Israeli waters, with cargo banned illegally by Israel, such as the 10,000 tonnes of badly needed concrete, toys, workbooks, chocolate, pasta and substantial medical supplies, the flotilla is exercising international law and upholding article 33 of the Geneva Convention which clearly states that collective punishment is a crime against humanity.
The hardships of Israel’s closure of Gaza have been well documented by all human rights groups operating, most recently by Amnesty International in their Annual Human Rights Report concluding that the siege has “deepened the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Mass unemployment, extreme poverty, food insecurity and food price rises caused by shortages left four out of five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid. The scope of the blockade and statements made by Israeli officials about its purpose showed that it was being imposed as a form of collective punishment of Gazans, a flagrant violation of international law.” The United Nations continuously states that only a fraction of the required aid is entering the Strip due to what it calls ‘the medieval siege’, with John Ging the Director of UNRWA in Gaza specifically expressing the need for the Flotilla to enter Gaza. The European Union’s new foreign affairs minister Catherine Ashton has just reiterated its call for, “an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza.”
The people of Gaza are not dependent people, but self sufficient people doing what they can to retain some dignity in life in the wake of this colossal man-made devastation that deprives so many of a basic start in life or minimal aspirations for the future.
We, from Gaza, call on you to demonstrate and support the courageous men and women who went on the Flotilla, many now murdered on a humanitarian aid mission. We insist on severance of diplomatic ties with Israel, trials for war crimes and the International protection of the civilians of Gaza. We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign of a country proving again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged. Join the growing critical mass around the world with a commitment to the day when Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as any other people, when the siege is lifted, the occupation is over and the 6 million Palestinian refugees are finally granted justice.
Press Contacts:
Dr Haidar Eid: One Democratic Sate Group and University Teachers’ Association
Dr Mona El Farra: Middle East Children’s Alliance, Gaza 00.972(0)598.868.222
Adie Mormech: International Solidarity Movement, Gaza 00.972(0)597.717.696
Max Ajl: Gaza Freedom March, Gaza 00.972(0)597.750.798
Signatory Organisations:
The One Democratic State Group
University Teachers Association
Arab Cultural Forum
Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel
Association of Al-Quds Bank for Culture and Info
Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements
International Solidarity Movement
Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organisations
Palestinian Women Committees
Progressive Students Union
Medical Relief Society
The General Society for Rehabilitation
Gaza Community Mental Health Program
General Union of Palestinian Women
Afaq Jadeeda Cultural Centre for Women and Children
Deir Al-Balah Cultural Centre for Women and Children
Maghazi Cultural Centre for Children
Al-Sahel Centre for Women and Youth
Ghassan Kanfani Kindergartens
Rachel Corrie Centre, Rafah
Rafah Olympia City Sisters
Al Awda Centre, Rafah
Al Awda Hospital, Jabaliya Camp
Ajyal Association, Gaza
General Union of Palestinian Syndicates
Al Karmel Centre, Nuseirat
Local Inititiative, Beit Hanoun
Union of Health Work Committees
Red Crescent Society Gaza Strip
Beit Lahiya Cultural Centre
Al Awda Centre, Rafah
June 1st, 2010 at 11:32 pm
I attended the emergency demonstration held in Manchester yesterday evening to protest at the Israeli war crimes, the illegal seizure of the Free Gaza aid convoy and the multiple killings of passengers on the Turkish ship ‘Mavi marham’
Over 2,000 attended this emergency demonstration in Manchester which was called when we learned of the terrible events in the Eastern Mediterranean events the previous evening.
We assembled at the BBC and after speeches and chanting we marched to the Exchange Square and then back again to the BBC, the demonstation was peaceful but highspirited
Following an attempt by demonstrators to gain entry to the BBC, the Police(Greater Manchester Police) began to get agressive, the tactital aid unit and police dog units were called in, and after one brave demonstrator managed to dodge the police and climb on the BBC roof to raise the Palestinian flag to the cheers of the crowd, the Police went crazy and started pushing their way into the crowds, grabbing people out of the crowd and taking them into custody