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Update on Gaza Freedom Flotilla

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Update on Gaza Freedom Flotilla

The UN Security Council has called for an impartial, credible investigation of Israel’s raid on the international aid flotilla, in international waters, which left 10 civilians dead. The council began its emergency session on Monday afternoon at the UN Headquarters in New York, and by early Tuesday morning agreed to language condemning the acts that resulted in the deaths and injuries aboard the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara and the European Campaign’s vessel Spendoni.

“The Security Council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza,” the council said in a statement. “The council in this context condemns those acts which resulted in the loss of at least 10 civilians and expresses condolences to the families.”

The 15 member-nations of the council also requested the immediate release of the seized ships that made up the flotilla, as well as the civilians who were taken into custody following the raid. And it called for a “prompt, impartial, credible and transparent” investigation into the incident.

The council statement also reemphasized the importance of implementing U.N. resolution 1860, which calls for the unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s 1.5 million residents.  The flow of aid has been severely hampered by Israel’s three-year blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Israel has blocked media access to the internationals from the flotilla in order to prevent the world from learning their side of the story. Israeli officials claimed Turkish activists were armed and Israeli naval commandos shot passengers in “self-defense.” The Turkish prime minister said Monday that the vessels in the flotilla were inspected before they left port in Turkey to make sure the cargo did not include weapons.

Of the hundreds of activists who were detained aboard the ships after they were escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod, 15 were sent to Beer Sheva Prison. Another 25 were deported and 50 others who refused to identify themselves were being held separately, according to Israeli reports.

The Washington Report has learned that Edward Peck, 81, a former U.S. ambassador to Mauritania, who served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper and as deputy director of the White House Task Force on Terrorism in the Reagan Administration is nearly home in Chevy Chase, MD.

USS Liberty survivor Joe Meadors is also on his way home to Corpus Christi, Texas.  Meadors was serving aboard the U.S. Navy intelligence ship USS Liberty that was attacked by Israeli forces on June 8, 1967, killing 34 crew members. “He hasn’t had much luck with the Israelis,” his wife Jean told one reporter. Meadors had planned to drop a wreath into the water in remembrance of his 34 shipmates.

Retired television commercial producer David Schermerhorn, 80, of Orcas Island, WA., was also on the flotilla and is safe, according to the U.S. Embassy.

Today’s press release from the Free Gaza Movement stated that Israeli-licensed attorneys filed two habeas briefs on May 31. One asked for the release of passengers and the boats, so the internationals can continue their humanitarian mission to Gaza, since it was illegal to stop them in international waters. The other brief asks for information on all of the passengers, because there has been a total blackout on where the passengers are, and which passengers were wounded or murdered.

Lawyers are only being allowed access for three hours every day from 13:00-16:30. They have the names of three Palestinians still in detention: Sheik Salah, Mohammad Zeidan, and Lubna Marsawa.

Action

U.S. - Send an e-mail and fax to your elected officials, including the president and Congress, calling on them to condemn Israel for using violence against peaceful, unarmed citizens. Ask the U.S. government to halt all U.S. aid to Israel.

Global - Call your elected officials and demand they condemn Israel for using military force on peaceful, unarmed internationals.

Global - Send an e-mail and fax to all Israeli embassies and consulates worldwide. Call your nearest Israeli embassy and demand an investigation of their raid on unarmed internationals. Call for an immediate end of Israel’s blockade on Gaza.

U.S. - Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.

Thousands of people have attended demonstrations at Israeli embassies and consulates across the world, including in the United States. Find or organize a protest near you.

Another Victim

An American solidarity activist was shot in the face with a tear gas canister during a demonstration in Qalandiya on May 31 to protest Israel’s murder of civilians aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters. Emily Henochowicz, 21, underwent surgery to remove her left eye, and to insert three metal plates into her head/face. Israeli occupation forces fired volleys of tear gas at unarmed Palestinian and international protesters, causing mass panic among the demonstrators and those queuing at the largest checkpoint separating the West Bank and Israel.

We must redouble our efforts to secure a lasting peace agreement. The world is waiting for a thoughtful, just, unbiased U.S. reaction. Will Americans do the right thing at last? Will President Barack Obama now launch an even-handed approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Or will Israel get away with murder—again?

For more information:

Free Gaza Movement – Greta Berlin  +357 99187275

Free Gaza Movement –  Mary Hughes + 357 96 38 38 09

ECESG – Mazen Kahel  +33 1 46 81 12 92

IHH – Ahmet Emin Dag  +90 530 341 1934

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is comprised of: Free Gaza Movement (FG), European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza (ECESG), Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), Ship to Gaza Greece, Ship to Gaza Sweden, The Perdana Global Peace Organization, and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza, with hundreds of groups and organizations around the world supporting the effort.

Find out about the Free Gaza Movement by visiting its Web site: http://www.freegaza.org