INTERNATIONAL WATERS OFF THE COAST OF GAZA — Today Israeli
Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat,
the Spirit of Humanity, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries,
including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former US Congresswoman
Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged
toward Israel.
“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat
was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the
Gaza Strip,” said Cynthia McKinney, a former US congresswoman and
presidential candidate.
“President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction
supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international
community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”
Thousands ‘trapped in despair’
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released
yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in despair.” Thousands
of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel’s December/
January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion
in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into
the Gaza Strip.
The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their
patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.
“The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope
that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport
their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and
thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of ‘Cast Lead.’
“Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and
that they are not alone,” said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a
Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.
Clear violation of international law
Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement
chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that:
“No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat
to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children’s toys.
“Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former US
congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance
by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever
approach Israeli waters.”
Arraf continued, “Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed
boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and
unconditional release.”
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