The Global Fund for Women strongly condemns the Israeli army’s violent raid on the Freedom Flotilla carrying peace activists and civilians from around the world who were hoping to deliver desperately needed aid to the people of Gaza.
Six ships, including two cargo vessels and other passenger vehicles, were carrying thousands of tons of humanitarian aid to the besieged region, which has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. The Flotilla left early May 30th from Cyprus heading into International waters towards Gaza. Then, Monday morning heavily armed Israeli soldiers rappelled onto one of the ships and chaos ensued. The soldiers were aided by14 warships, helicopters, and other heavy machinery. Latest reports indicate 10 activists were killed many more have been injured and hundreds taken into custody by Israeli troops.
We at the Global Fund know all too well that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict does not lend itself to simplistic solutions or analysis. However, as one of the few organizations in the world that supports both Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations led by women’s activists inside Israel and in Palestine - both in Gaza and the West Bank, our 20+ years of experience tell us that when governments and non-governmental actors choose military action as their primary response to conflict, civilians suffer disproportionately. In the three year economic blockade imposed on Gaza by the Israeli government, it is young children, families, and women who have been the most affected by the lack of access to basic necessities.
A coalition of international civil society and human rights organizations mobilized to provide supplies for delivery to the people of Gaza by sea, using only international waters and the coastal waters immediately off Gaza. On board were roughly 700 activists and leaders from more than 30 countries including volunteers from South Africa, Algeria, Turkey, Macedonia, Pakistan, Yemen, Kosovo, the UK and US and Kuwait; an exiled former Archbishop of Jerusalem who currently lives in the Vatican, religious leaders, several EU parliamentarians and former US diplomats. Among the latter group was Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, a Nobel Women Peace Laureate from Ireland, who has travelled on earlier boats and worked for years to end the siege in Gaza, author Henning Mankell, several journalists, including Scottish documentarian Hassan Ghani, and former US Ambassador Edward Peck.
Israel's latest deadly attack on civilian peace activists is part of a pattern of the Israeli state's war crimes and other grave human rights abuses against civilians, including an attack on Gaza two years ago and a mounting crackdown on peaceful activists opposing Israel's siege of Gaza and occupation of the West Bank. Israel has been blocking peace activists and prominent figures from entering Israel and the West Bank (most recently Noam Chomsky), violently cracking down on demonstrations inside Israel, and arresting and detaining Jewish and Palestinian Israeli peace activists.
This demonstrates the failure of the State of Israel to live up to international laws that govern interactions between and among nations and peoples. The world community has long lacked the courage to hold Israel accountable for such violations of international law – yet after today’s actions almost every country in the world has come out strongly condemning the actions of the Israeli State. We call on the United States government to add its strong voice of condemnation of this action, immediately.
TAKE ACTION:
Gaza: Investigate the Raid, end the blockade!
Sign a petition by Avaaz.org
Please tell President Obama to condemn and sanction Israel for these attacks. Email: www.whitehouse.gov/contact or call: 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414.
Also, contact your Congressional representatives and senators: www.house.gov , www.senate.gov , or call 202-224-3121. Find out more information about the attacks.
MORE INFORMATION:
What happened to us is happening in Gaza: Donor Iara Lee in San Francisco Chronicle
Statement by Haifa Feminist Center, a grantee in Israel.
Visit the Coalition of Women for Peace, for frequent updates, media interviews, and action alerts.
