Monday, May 31, 2010

Israelis flout international law yet again…

…and only Turkey bats an eyelid.

The United Nations says that the people of Gaza are getting less than a quarter of the aid they need – not because the aid isn’t available, but because the Israeli Government will not let it in. And when a flotilla of ships was sailing to take humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea, the Israeli army acted like pirates.

Read this BBC report and make up your own mind - The Israeli army stormed aid ships in international waters and more than 10 people on board were killed.

Update:

UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he was "shocked by reports of killings and injuries" and called for a "full investigation" into what happened.

The White House said the US "deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained" in the storming of the aid ship.

Audrey Bomse, a spokesperson for the Free Gaza Movement, which is behind the convoy, told the BBC Israel's actions were disproportionate.

"We were not going to pose any violent resistance. The only resistance that there might be would be passive resistance such as physically blocking the steering room, or blocking the engine room downstairs, so that they couldn't get taken over. But that was just symbolic resistance."

She said there was "absolutely no evidence of live fire".

Turkey, whose nationals comprised the majority of those on board, accused Israel of "targeting innocent civilians".

"We strongly denounce Israel's inhumane interception," it said, warning of "irreparable consequences" to the two countries' relations.

Greece has withdrawn from joint military exercises with Israel in protest at the raid on the flotilla.

4 comments:

diane s said...

Someone on Twitter who is pro-Israel claimed that the peace activists had knives — not sure where this info came from...?!

In any case, Israel's actions have been deplorable this week and for many years.

I'm batting an eyelid, but I don't know what else I can do. (Money isn't really an option for me right now, nor is protesting in person.) It's some (albeit small) comfort to me that a lot of people are similarly outraged. I hope the tide will turn.

You are raising awareness, if it's any small comfort to you — I understand much more about the terrible situation in Gaza from reading your blog posts on the subject. x

Sue Hepworth said...

Hi Diane,
Thanks. It *is* a comfort to me that I am doing even a small something to help the Palestinians. Here are three suggestions for you - boycott Israeli goods, write to William Hague to ask him to cut off British connections with Israel until they obey international law, and talk to other people about the situation to raise awareness. I hope that eventually the world will recognise that what is going on in the middle-east is similar to apartheid in South Africa, and then international sanctions will force a change in Israeli government policy. I have to hope. x

diane said...

Amnesty has an email thing where you can email William Hague. Am trying to talk to people about it, and will certainly boycott. Thanks Sue. x

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