Israeli gunboats seize Gaza aid ship

[Two itmes below...]

Press release, 30 June 2009

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 (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 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."

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 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."

Kidnapped passengers from the Spirit of Humanity include:

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 US 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 filmmaker and human rights activist.

Kathy Sheetz, US

Kathy is a nurse and filmmaker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.

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For Immediate Release
Veterans For Peace: www.veteransforpeace.org

July 1, 2009

CONTACT:  Mike Ferner, 419-729-7273
Michael McPhearson, 314-303-8874

U.S. MILITARY VETERANS CONDEMN ISRAELI SEIZURE OF AID BOAT IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS OFF GAZA.

Veterans ask, "Is this not piracy on the high seas?"

ST. LOUIS -- Veterans For Peace today issued the following statement from their national office in St. Louis, regarding yesterday's seizure of the "Spirit of Humanity," its passengers, crew and aid supplies for Gaza.

Veterans For Peace forcefully condemns the Israeli Navy's seizure of the "Spirit of Humanity," a converted tugboat loaded with medical supplies, children's toys and reconstruction kits, en route from Cyprus to Gaza. We urge our 8,000 members in 120 chapters across the country to call and fax the Israeli government officials listed below. Demand the release of the 21 crew, passengers and journalists and the safe delivery of their aid supplies.

Israel's bombing and invasion of Gaza early this year not only killed and wounded thousands of Palestinians, but destroyed and damaged thousands of buildings, water systems and other vital infrastructure in the highly crowded territory. A blockade enforced by Israel since then has prevented most supplies from reaching Gazans so they can survive the blistering climate and begin to rebuild.

Seizing the Spirit of Humanity violates international law just as the Somali pirates have done but worse, as the health and very lives of people are at stake in this case.

The 21 people on the boat when it was seized in pre-dawn darkness included crew, journalists and passengers, among them Mairead Maguire, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in northern Ireland and former U.S. Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney.

VFP salutes them for insisting they are not "the story," and asking their supporters around the world to focus on Palestinians suffering devastation, blockade and imprisonment as a result of the Israeli occupation. They ask people to "adopt" a Palestinian prisoner and advocate for his or her welfare and release.

Israeli government officials to call and fax:
Major Liebovitz, Navy at: Tel + 972 5 781 86248 or +972 3737 7777 or +972 3737 6242
Fax +972 3737 6123 or +972 3737 7175

Mark Regev, Prime Minister's office: Tel +972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il

Shlomo Dror, Ministry of Defence: Tel +972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il

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