The Free Gaza ship "Spirit of Humanity" sailed from Cyprus at 7.30 on Monday 29th June. On board were 21 human rights activists and solidarity volunteers, representing 11 nations. Among the passengers were Nobel Peace laureate, Mairead Maguire and former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The boat was carrying three tons of medical supplies, toys and crayons for children, and reconstruction kits for twenty families.But it never arrived in Gaza because of an act of international piracy. The Israeli army boarded the Spirit of Humanity in international waters , arresting everyone on board and confiscating all the cargo.
According to an Israeli spokesman:
The Israeli navy has intercepted the cargoship Arion, flying the Greek flag, while it attempted to reach Gaza without authorisation.
If, as Israel claims, Gaza is no longer occupied territory, what right do Israeli forces have to decide about authorisation of a civilian ship to enter Gaza's territorial waters?
Perhaps basing their claim on the Oslo accords, which confered temporary control of the waters to Israel? Though Israel has not respected a single clause of the accords, they have used this argument against Gazan fishermen.
Perhaps to maintain a naval blockade against "the hostile entity"? But according to the Geneva Convention, even in time of war, naval blockades must not impede the passage of humanitarian aid.
It seems, however, that Israel is looking after the needs of the 1.5 million Palestinians imprisoned in the Gaza Strip. So, at least, says Mark Regev, spokesman for the Prime Minister, labelling the activists on board the ship "apologists for Hamas".
Indeed, the Israeli armed forces have even established a committee to decide what food the inhabitants of the Strip should eat. But their role isn't to smooth the transfer of aid, but rather to check the containers sent by international solidarity organisations and to decide whether they contain "luxury items". Led by high ranking officers, Colonels Moshe Levi, Alex Rosenzweig, and Doron Segal, it meets every week to take these decisions, so important for the security of Israel. Some days ago, cherries, kiwi fruit, plums, grapes, apricots, and almonds were labeled "too luxurious" and so banned.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, talking of 1.5 million people trapped in despair, doesn't seem convinced by the efforts of the three colonels:
Under international humanitarian law, Israel has the obligation to ensure that the population's basic needs in terms of food, shelter, water and medical supplies are met.
The ICRC once again appeals for a lifting of restrictions on the movement of people and goods as the first and most urgent measure to end Gaza's isolation and to allow its people to rebuild their lives.
The almost 4.5 billion dollars that donor countries pledged for reconstruction at an international summit in Egypt in March 2009 will be of little use if building materials and other essential items cannot be imported into the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli act of piracy against an unarmed vessel that had already been checked for arms by the Cypriot authorities, is nothing other than an attempt to block the expression of solidarity with the people of Gaza.
We must act now:- Take part in a mail blitz. with one click, send an email to the President of the Republic, the Minister for External Affairs, the Presidents of the Chamber and the Senate, and to the presidents of the foreign affairs comittees. - http://www.actionforpeace.org/index.php/freegaza.html
- Sign the petition to the leaders of the US and the UN– http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gazashippetition
- Spread the word – send this message to your mailing list, forward it via Facebook, Myspace, etc……
- Get out on the streets! Organise local emergeny protests in solidarity with the people of Gaza and to demand the release of all who have been abducted by the Israeli Occupation Forces.
- Support other solidarity actions: for Gaza:
- The next Free Gaza voyage http://www.freegaza.org/it/.
- Another aid convoy of hundreds of people from the US will depart from the US on July 4th, led by British MP George Galloway and Vietnam veteran , Ron Kovic.
- The Swedish action, Ship to Gaza http://www.shiptogaza.se.
- The International Movement to Open the Rafah border has established a permanent camp at the Rafah crossing. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9986479902.
- The next Free Gaza voyage http://www.freegaza.org/it/.
- Call the media and insist that they do not hide this criminal act.
