Protest Israeli Attack on Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Last night the Israeli navy attacked humanitarian ships in
international waters in the middle of the night. Reports indicate that
10-16 humanitarian activists were killed and 50-60 were injured. The ships
were seized by the Israeli navy and taken to Haifa to avoid press at
Ashdod. UFPJ condemns the Israeli Government for their brutal attack on
unarmed civilians. Protests have taken place across the world and a number
of Governments are taking action.
The
U.S. arms Israel to the tune of billions of dollars a year and hence
shares responsibility for this atrocity. How many more must die
before the Obama Administration cuts off the aid we give to Israel each
year?
On board were 750 people of conscience from 40 different countries,
including 35 international politicians intent on breaking the
Israeli-Egyptian blockade. We offer our sincerest condolences to family
and friends who have lost loved ones in the attack. One of the boats was
named after Rachel Corrie, to honor this strong young woman killed by the
Israel Defense Forces in April 2003.
Demonstrate!
Demonstrations are being organized in Washington DC, New York, and
Boston. Please join in where you can or organize your own. It is time to
end the blockade of Gaza and the Israeli occupation of Palestine by ending
US support for Israeli slaughter.
New York - 3pm today (Monday, May 31), Times
Square
Washington, DC - 3pm today, Israeli Embassy, 3514
International Drive NW (Van Ness metro) - Moving on to the White House at
5pm
Boston - 4pm today, Park Street Station
Use Memorial Day to memorialize all the brave activists, show our
outrage, and let the world know we are not sleeping!
Contact the White House!
Call or email to demand an immediate cutoff of U.S. aid to
Israel.
Email the White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact.
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Contact
the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and demand that U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice vote to support a UN Security
Council resolution condemning Israel's action and initiating an
investigation. 212-415-4062
Background
The UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories,
Richard Falk, urged Monday the international community to bring to justice
those responsible for the killing of some 16 unarmed peace activist, when
Israeli armed commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to
Gaza.
"Israel is guilty of shocking behavior by using deadly weapons against
unarmed civilians on ships that were situated in the high seas where
freedom of navigation exists, according to the law of the seas," Mr. Falk
said. "It is essential that those Israelis responsible for this lawless
and murderous behavior, including political leaders who issued the orders,
be held criminally accountable for their wrongful acts."
By sailing directly to Gaza, outside of Israeli waters, with cargo
banned illegally by Israel, such as the 10,000 tonnes of badly needed
concrete, toys, workbooks, chocolate, pasta and substantial medical
supplies, the flotilla is exercising international law and upholding
article 33 of the Geneva Convention which clearly states that collective
punishment is a crime against humanity.
The hardships of Israel's closure of Gaza have been well documented by
all human rights groups operating, most recently by Amnesty International
in their Annual Human Rights Report concluding that the siege has
"deepened the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Mass unemployment, extreme
poverty, food insecurity and food price rises caused by shortages left
four out of five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid. The scope of the
blockade and statements made by Israeli officials about its purpose showed
that it was being imposed as a form of collective punishment of Gazans, a
flagrant violation of international law."
For updates go to http://witnessgaza.com/
and http://www.freegaza.org/ |