It has been reported that Israel, in what I think can accurately be described as an act of piracy, has, 23 miles off the coast of Gaza, attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, and abducted it's 21 human rights workers from 11 countries. Those kidnapped include Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who, 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."
"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."
www.freegaza.org
Seizing humanitarian supplies and abducting human rights workers is an act of piracy, a crime under international law. When the boat was attacked, it was not in Israeli waters and was on a human rights mission to Gaza. Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on an unarmed boat in international waters is a clear violation of international law.
So, are acts of piracy acceptable when it is Israel carrying out those acts? How far is impunity from abiding by intl law to be extended?
Here is a link to a video of the Israeli attack on the Free Gaza Movement boat.
vodpod.com/watch/1259584-cynthia-mckinne...
Sherri
