Activists on “The Spirit of Humanity” Seized by Israel
July 1st, 2009 § 1 Comment
Since August 2008, the Free Gaza Movement has sailed from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip on several successful voyages, bringing in international witnesses to see first hand the devastating effects of Israeli violence against the Palestinian people
On June 30th the Israeli army abducted 21 human rights workers and journalists from a boat which was attempting to bring supplies (including medical supplies and cement for reconstruction efforts) to Gaza, where people are in desperate need due to the Israeli enforced blockade of their borders. The ship, which departed from Cyprus, was flying a Greek flag, but no Greek citizens were aboard. The Greek government issued a statement saying it sent a message to Israel demanding that it release the ship, crew and passengers.
The Free Gaza Movement website has an important message on it as well, urging those who wish to act in solidarity to remember the Gazans plight and fight to relieve that, rather their own troubles:
Since their kidnapping, tens-of-thousands of people around the world have mobilized to demand their immediate and unconditional release. The Free Gaza Movement would like to thank everyone who has made a phone call, sent a fax or email, written a letter, or organized a demonstration on behalf of our 21 imprisoned friends.
With respect, it is not enough. We are not the story. Since its founding in 1948 the State of Israel has regularly kidnapped and tortured Palestinians, throwing them into forgotten prisons where they can languish for years. Today, over 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners without benefit of due process, some never even charged – men, women, and children – endure torture and isolation in Israeli jails, outdoor prison camps, and secret black sites. They come from all walks of life: doctors, journalists, parliamentarians, workers, resistance fighters, homemakers, students and others. They are our sisters and brothers.
…
We in the Free Gaza Movement implore all the good people around the world who have working so hard to secure the release of our friends to “adopt” a Palestinian prisoner. We ask you to learn about the crisis and take on the cause of an individual prisoner as your own.
Break the Siege! Reach out to Palestine!
There are also various links on their website providing methods through which anyone can express their solidarity with.
Barak Ravid and Anshel Pfeffer included this on their piece in Haaretz:
One of the international activists who sought to sail to Gaza on Tuesday lamented the world’s “apathy” to the plight of the Hamas-ruled territory shortly before the Israel Navy seized control of the vessel.
“We didn’t come with guns and weapons, but with just humanitarian aid, in an attempt to break the siege of Gaza and to tell the apathetic world about what is happening in the Strip, especially after the last war.”
The boat the passengers were travelling on was called The Spirit of Humanity.
[...] including Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire, were kidnapped and detained after being illegally seized by the israeli occupation navy while in international waters. They were valiantly endeavouring to [...]