From the Free Gaza Movement:
[23 miles off the coast of Gaza, 15:30pm] – Today Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY (pictured right before leaving port), abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.
"This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip," said Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate. "President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that's exactly what we tried to do. We're asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey."
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are "trapped in despair." Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel's December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel's disruption of medical supplies.
"The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of "Cast Lead". Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone" said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.
Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: "No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children's toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters."
Arraf continued, "Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release."
***From: US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation (uscampaign@mail.democracyinaction.org) Take Action to Free the Spirit of Humanity's Passengers and Crew Please send an email to the Israeli Prime Minister's office, the Israeli Defense Ministry, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, and your Members of Congress demanding that The Spirit of Humanity's passengers and crew are released! ***TO SEND – http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/641/t/2439/c...
Every infantile statement of yours delegitimizes yourself and this blog.
You are not hated because you are "Jews", you are hated because you are evil Nazis. As for the Greeks, they know all about you folks!!
Interesting article posted in Counterpunch. Pirates of the Mediterranean http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts07012009.html
When the good people of Vietnam killed enough American invaders, the war ended. Israel will never make peace until the number of dead Israelis in the conflict becomes unsustainable. There is no other way.
Look, maybe you know more about Richard Witty than I do, but can we save the really scathing comments for people worse than him? I mean, among the Israel-defenders on this site he seems to be the most civilized and reasonable.
It remains rather beyond belief that some people here actually oppose this ship's humanitarian mission. Would they do the same if it was bound for, say, Tibet? Galloway's Viva Palestina! convoy almost suffered the same fate and it too got criticised by Ziotrolls the world around…
Hey those toys and foodstuffs & health products in that tiny boat might be used against Israel; we shouldn't be sending any such stuff to Gaza as it enhances Gaza babies ability to survive and grown up against Israel. Jeez, don't you know simple SS philosophy, simple pragmatics, when you see it? OH, if only Israel didn't have to worry so much about PR for outside support–they could just pitchfork those Pal babies. Oh well the price you have to pay for being a welfare client who can't be totally self-reliant like the emerging Nazi Germany. No matter what, the Jews always rely on the Goys–even as their core belief is never rely on Goys. Anybody want to comment on this historical actuality?
Irish Times story (by correspondent Michael Jansen based in Nicosia) confirms the vessel was seized in international waters: Peace activists' ferry to Gaza seized by Israeli navy:
I don't think International Law sees a difference. Blocking the Gazan's ability to import cement, denies them the right to re-build their houses, which is a fundamental human right. You can't punish a group of people for a something haven't yet done.
Jews lived in Gaza for centuries until they were kicked out by Arabs. Many Jews who are unfairly and dishonestly called "settlers" are actually living in their GRANDPARENT'S HOUSES. If you go to the original cause and effect, you will find Mohammed and a vile, brutal and cruel theology that hurts Muslims more than it hurts everyone else. But that truth will require Arabs to blame themselves for their lot… and that truth is something they cannot face. Apparently, you can't, either.
Israel is not occupying Palestine. That is MondoStupidity, repeated ad nauseum, but dishonest stupidity all the same. Do you know what the country of Jordan was called 100 years ago? Can you say.. Palestine? What's more, Israel moved out of the entire Gaza Strip. Land for peace, remember? Israel gave Gaza 100% of the land and got… Qassam rockets, kidnappings, sniper murder of farmers, and more and more terrorism. Do you know nothing?
Israel has no nuclear armed nor powered subs. The US does, though….
I Love it that Hamas fired THOUSANDS of Qassam rockets into Israeli towns and when Israel does ANYTHING in response, idiots claim, shamelessly, that Israel has "violated a ceasefire". True MondoLogic!
Rainbow Warrior. Or is it only bad if Israel does something?
Building homes is a fundamental human right? How about Christians in Sudan? Can you say Darfur? Why do Muslims get special laws only for them?
Andrew is actually right. Under Israeli rule, the infant mortality rate in Gaza plummetted and the population exploded. Now, under Hamas rule, Gazans are going back to living like… Arabs. And some of you ar blaming even this on Israel! The UN is also to blame… UNRWA is a UN agency dedicated to perpetuating the myth og Palestinean Refugeedom U NRWA pays to feeed unemployed Hamas terrorists to have 16 children, most of whom can be dedicated to Shahidism – dying in suicide attacks. Truth is stranger than fiction…
Where do you get thes false "quotes" from????
"Israel is not occupying Palestine." You can't have occupied territories without an occupation. 100 years ago, Palestine was called Palestine and everyone West of Jordan was referred to as a Palestinian, Jew or Arab. Yes, ISrael moved out of the Gaza strip, leaving behind a scortched earth and maintaining a vice like grip until to day. It controls all air alnd and sea access to Gaza. For the 12 months after they withdrew, Israle fired 7,700 shells into Gaza so yes, the Palestinians fired rockets back. BTW. The snipers are IDF and terrorism is what Israel was founded on. Clearly you do know nothing.
Israel DOES have nuclear armed subs. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/oct/12/israe...
There had been no rockets fired into Israeli towns for 4 months when Israel broke the ceasfire on November 4th and then rejected the offer to extend the ceasefire. So yes, Isreal vilated the ceasefire. I can;t make it any simpler for you. Israel has rejeted a long ceasefire with Hamas, beasue as Tzipi Linvi said, it is not in Israel's strategic interests to have a long ceasefire.
"Rainbow Warrior." Another act of terrorism yes. Bad when Israel does it. Bad when anyone else does it.
How charming? Arabs were living like Arabs before Israel was created and enjoyed a vibrant and thriving community. The infant mortality rate rose under Hamas rule because the day Hamas was elected, Israel set about puniching the Gazam's for voting the wrong way in a democratic election. Palestinias refugees are a historical fact, and existed long before UNWRA. "Truth is stranger than fiction… " What you gave us is fiction. In fact, it's facist, rascist bile and with vulgar peopel liek you in Israel, it's little wonder support for Isrel is falling like a stone.
I recall. 1300 civilian Palestinians dead, 120 Israelis, most of them IDF dead. Israel sent packing with their asses in a sling and Hezbollah stil in place and more popular than ever. 51% of Israelis agreeing Israel were defeated. Does that help?
"Don't launch missiles and mortars at civilians." So only Israel can do it or shoudl the Palestinians just die quietly? "Stop trying to kidnap Israelis." While Israle has 1000 children in it's prisons for no reason. "release Cpl. Shalit immediately and then there is little need for a blockade. " Sure, and I have a bridge in Alaska you might want to buy.
The dead were Lebanese, mostly Shia. Palestinians are mostly Sunni with a minority of Christians. Part of the 'ass-on-plate' refers to Hezbollah success in destroying Israeli tanks. The 2006 Lebanon Campaign and the Future of Warfare: Implications for Army and Defense Policy , Strategic Studies Institute, United States Army War College http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pub...
"Hezbollah stil in place and more popular than ever. " I guess losing in the elections shows you're popular, right?
You Zionist wingnuts are sooo predictable. Every time you are backed into a corner, you being up Darfur. Christians and Arabs alike are being killed in Darfur. What's your point?
"I guess losing in the elections shows you're popular, right?" 3 years after the fact of course and let's be reminded that the gerrymandering of Lebanon's politics makes it almost impossible for Hezbollah to win. Hezbollah are still in place. Victory in war is about achieving a strategic objective. Israel's was to destroy Hezbollah. Hezbollah's was to survive and to repel the Israeli invasion. Nasrallah became a hero throughout the Muslim world. Heck of a job Israel.
As I remember, Ernst vom Rath was considered to be a pro-Jewish Nazi, who was uncomfortable with mistreatment of Jews within German and who tried to be as helpful as possible with those leaving
Some discussion of Muslim and Jewish involvement in piracy: KABOBfest: Pirates vs. Ninjas…Arab Style.
Yes, they do have the same right. And the Darfuris are Muslim (if you cared to do some research)
I'll be happy when they finally sink one of their ships. No big loss.
Wrongo. Israel left INDUSTRIES behind. The Gazans DESTROYED THEIR OWN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. The shells were fired BY GAZAN HAMASIS, not by Israel. Gosh, you are mixed up…
Fool. Israel has never admitted to even having nuclear weapons, so how can the Guardian say that Israel "admitted to nuclear arming of cruise missiles"??? That is like the Guardian bringing a scoop on how the US "admitted" to autopsy of those Roswell aliens… Your standard of proof…. laughable.
Moron. Your dates are all mixed up. Just like your other 'facts'. Hamas fires rockets into Israel routinely. Sometimes several a week, sometimes over a hundred a day. That you don't read about it in MondoLies doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Hamas keeping a ceasefire? Ha!
Anyone for censuring New Zealand? Antisemitic bigots that you are…
Ha! So now genocide is OK? Thank you Shafiq! And all hail to your Lord Allah, the lover of human sacrifices!
Are you contradicting Shafiq? Can't get your stories straight? I was responding abotu home building. You run off on a tangent. Confused fellow, aren't you?
Hey, I LIVED just outside Gaza City in the 1960's. I KNOW what I am talking about. Check it out with teh World Health Organization. Arabs lived BEST under Jewish rule. Now they are back to ARab rule – and they are unhappy. Surpirse!
Tell that to the jews who settled in the ottoman empire after the spanish inquisition. if muslims were so awful, why didn't they stay in spain instead? surely death was wonderful that under the awful muslims
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