[E-rundbrief] Info 844 - Peace Boat to Gaza-Team verhaftet - 29.7.09

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 844 - Matthias Reichl: Das Team des 
Peace-Boat-to-Gaza mit ihrem Schiff von Israels Kriegsmarine am 29.6.09 
verhaftet; Free Gaza.org: Two messages from the ship "Spirit of 
Humanity" 29./ 30.6.2009.

Bad Ischl, 1.7.2009

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Peace Boat to Gaza-Team mit ihrem Schiff von Israels Kriegsmarine am 
29.6.09 verhaftet.

Der zweite Versuch der Initiative "Peace Boat to Gaza" in diesem Jahr, 
mit dem Schiff "Spirit of Humanity" humanitäre Hilfsgüter, Olivenbäume 
und Zement nach Gaza zu bringen, wurde durch israelische Kriegsschiffe 
wieder verhindert.

Das Schiff wurde von der Kriegsmarine am 29.6.09 in internationalen 
Gewässern vor der Küste von Gaza eingekreist, ihre Navigationstechnik 
zerstört und schließlich in den isrealischen Hafen Ashdod geschleppt. 
Die 21 Aktivisten und Journalisten aus 11 Ländern - darunter auch aus 
Palästina und arabischen Ländern - wurden verhaftet. (Das ist der Stand 
von 1.7.09, 10:30.)

Ursprünglich sollte auch ein zweites Schiff fahren, auf dem auch 
Waltraud Schauer, eine Aktivistin von "Frauen in Schwarz, Wien", 
mitgefahren wäre.

Das Schiff "Dignity", das im Jänner 09 die Seeblockade um Gaza brechen 
wollte, wurde damals von israelischen Militärs so schwer beschädigt, 
dass es schließlich mit den Hilfgütern vor einem libanesischen Hafen 
gesunken ist.

Die Homepage www.freegaza.org informiert laufend über die weiteren 
Entwicklungen und ruft zu Protesten bei den israelischen Behörden auf. 
Über eine wirksame Intervention beim US-Außenministerium berichtet Donna 
Baranski-Walker und ruft dazu auf, auch bei Kongress-Mitgliedern anzurufen:

"My contact at the U.S. State Department returned my call 40 minutes ago 
to say that they are in touch with the Israeli government and have been 
since the boat was surrounded some 6 hours ago. Overall, our State 
Department seeks to assure the safety of all on board and would like to 
see the boat get through as it is carrying humanitarian relief and 
cement to the people of Gaza, specifically aiding non-governmental 
organizations."

Matthias Reichl

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Die letzten zwei Meldungen vom Schiff "Spirit of Humanity" - postet on 
www.freegaza.org:

29.6.09 [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, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, 
including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman 
Cynthia McKinney (see below for a complete list of passengers). 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."

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Call off your attack dogs - Cynthia McKinney

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Dienstag, 30. Juni 2009 um 01:15 Uhr Geschrieben von: Free Gaza Team

We just spoke to the passengers. Everyone is OK, but the situation is 
still very tense. They continue to be surrounded by Israeli warships 
which are threatening to open fire. The Israeli Navy is actively jamming 
all navigation systems in violation of international maritime law, 
endangering the people on board.

Former U.S. Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, speaking from on board the 
SPIRIT, stated, "I am extremely angry. We demand that the Israeli 
government call off their attack dogs. We are unarmed civilians aboard 
an unarmed boat delivering medical and reconstruction aid to other human 
beings in Gaza. Why in God's name would Israel want to attack us and 
threaten our safety and welfare. I call on President Obama and the 
international community to intervene now to prevent this situation from 
escalating with potentially drastic results to the civilians on board."

Since the boat's navigation equipment is being jammed, it has turned 
westward in order to stay in international waters.The Captain and crew 
are working from the most ancient of navigation equipment...the compass 
to stay clear of Israeli waters.


-- 

Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
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fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
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