[23 miles off the coast of Gaza , 15:30pm] - 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 U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia
McKinney (see below for a complete list of passengers). 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 U.S. 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."
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 Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland .
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 U.S. 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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WHAT YOU CAN DO!
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Justice
tel: +972 2646 6666 or +972 2646 6340
fax: +972 2646 6357
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
tel: +972 2530 3111
fax: +972 2530 3367
CONTACT Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
tel: +972 5 0620 3264 or +972 2670 5354
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il <mailto:mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.
E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! Sie müssen JavaScript
aktivieren, damit Sie sie sehen können.
CONTACT the International Committee of the Red Cross to ask for their
assistance in establishing the wellbeing of the kidnapped human rights
workers and help in securing their immediate release!
Red Cross Israel
tel: +972 3524 5286
fax: +972 3527 0370
tel_aviv.tel@icrc.org <mailto:tel_aviv.tel@icrc.org> Diese
E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! Sie müssen JavaScript
aktivieren, damit Sie sie sehen können.
Red Cross Switzerland :
tel: +41 22 730 3443
fax: +41 22 734 8280
Red Cross USA :
tel: +1 212 599 6021
fax: +1 212 599 6009
###
Kidnapped Passengers from the Spirit of Humanity include:
<http://www.freegaza.org/home/
Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrain
Khalad is an engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association of
Bahrain.
Othman Abufalah , Jordan
Othman is a world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.
Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain
Khaled is a lecturer with the University of Bahrain .
Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen
Mansour is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.
Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain
Fatima is a relief worker and community activist from Bahrain .
Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain
Juhaina is a journalist & human rights activist.
Huwaida Arraf, US
Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation
co-coordinator for this voyage.
Ishmahil Blagrove, UK
Ishmahil is a Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and
founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries
focus on international struggles for social justice.
Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain
Kaltham is a community activist.
Derek Graham, Ireland
Derek Graham is an electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate
aboard the Spirit of Humanity.
Alex Harrison, UK
Alex is a solidarity worker from Britain . She is traveling to Gaza to do
long-term human rights monitoring.
Denis Healey, UK
Denis is Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth
voyage to Gaza .
Fathi Jaouadi, UK
Fathi is a British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation
co-coordinator for this voyage.
Mairead Maguire, Ireland
Mairead is a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.
Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel
Lubna is a Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.
Theresa McDermott, Scotland
Theresa is a solidarity worker from Scotland . She is traveling to Gaza
to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Cynthia McKinney , US
Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken advocate for human rights and social
justice issues, as well as a former U.S. congressperson and presidential
candidate.
Adnan Mormesh, UK
Adnan is a solidarity worker from Britain . He is traveling to Gaza to do
long-term human rights monitoring.
Adam Qvist, Denmark
Adam is a solidarity worker from Denmark . He is traveling to Gaza to do
human rights monitoring.
Adam Shapiro , US
Adam is an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.
Kathy Sheetz , US
Kathy is a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights
monitoring.
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