Freedom Flotilla 2 calls upon governments for protection of its citizens
March 9, 2011 Leave a comment
Amsterdam, March the 7th 2011
PRESS STATEMENT
Freedom Flotilla 2 calls upon governments
for protection of its citizens
Amsterdam – The organisations united in Freedom Flotilla 2 call upon their respectivegovernments to take concrete action to ensure the safety of their citizens and prevent arepetition of last year’s lethal assault on their flotilla. On 31 May, 2010, the Israeli navyattacked a humanitarian sea convoy on its way to deliver solidarity and aid to the besiegedpeople of the Gaza Strip, killing nine civilians. In May this year, a new flotilla will set sail tobreak and end the illegal blockade of Gaza. Organisers met in Amsterdam this past weekendto further their preparations.
Governments around the world condemned Israel’s attack on the Freedom Flotilla ininternational waters. UN Human Rights Council investigators called the treatment of civiliansaboard the ships brutal and disproportionate. “There is clear evidence to support prosecutionsof the following crimes within the terms of article 147 of the fourth Geneva Convention: wilfulkilling; torture or inhuman treatment; wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to bodyor health,” the UN Human Rights Council Fact Finding Mission report determined.
The International Committee of the Red Cross deemed the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Stripillegal because it constitutes collective punishment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The UN FactFinding Mission report affirmed, “the blockade is unlawful and cannot be sustained in law (….)regardless of the grounds.” Governments are legally bound to uphold and act against violationsof international law and human rights treaties. This includes not only the blockade of the GazaStrip and ongoing violence against the civilian population there, but also the colonization of theWest Bank, the ethnic cleansing of East Jerusalem, and the construction of the Separation Wall,declared illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004. Yet, the community of states isshamefully appeasing Israel’s crimes instead of acting to stop them.
“The humanitarian mission of the Freedom Flotilla 2 is a non-violent response to the deafeningsilence of our governments”, says Benji de Levie, spokesperson for the Dutch delegation. “Anyattempt made – political or military- to obstruct or prevent the arrival of the Freedom Flotillain the port of Gaza is an act in violation of international law and should be treated accordinglyby our governments.” De Levie: “In the light of the current peaceful people-power protestsin the Middle East, we expect our governments to be consistent in their foreign policycondemning all forms of human rights violations against peaceful civilian initiatives, regardlessthe perpetrator.”
Preparations in all regions involved (Europe, North America, North Africa, Asia, South-Americaand Australia) are going according to schedule. Approximately 15 ships carrying cargo andover a thousand freedom riders will set sail for Gaza in May. Among them will be journalists,politicians, humanitarian aid workers, artists, and human rights activists. The grassrootscampaigns within the countries are growing steadily, which is reflected in large public events,such as the upcoming solidarity concerts and events.
Freedom Flotilla News 