[E-rundbrief] Info 1766 - FreedomFlotilla boat for Gaza hijacked by Israeli forces

Matthias Reichl info at begegnungszentrum.at
So Jul 29 18:14:01 CEST 2018


E-Rundbrief Info 1766 - FreedomFlotilla boat carrying medical supplies 
for #Gaza hijacked by Israeli forces

Bad Ischl, 29.7.2018

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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#FreedomFlotilla boat carrying medical supplies for #Gaza hijacked by 
Israeli forces

https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org/news/freedomflotilla-boat-carrying-medical-supplies-for-gaza-hijacked-by-israeli-forces
July 29, 2018
2253

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  29 July, 2018 13:15pm CEST

The motor vessel Al Awda (The Return), traveling in international 
waters towards Palestinian waters, 49 nautical miles from the port in 
Gaza City, has been contacted by the Israeli Occupation Forces navy 
and warned. The Israeli navy claims our ship is breaking international 
law and threatens that they will use “any measures necessary” to stop 
us. In fact, the only “necessary measures”  would be to end the 
blockade of Gaza and restore freedom of movement for all Palestinians. 
At last news from on board, Al Awda maintains her course towards Gaza, 
where the crew and participants hope to arrive this evening around 
21:00 local time.

A number of warships have appeared, so an attack, boarding and capture 
appear to be imminent, and we anticipate that all communications with 
the vessel will be lost shortly. Al Awda is sailing under a Norwegian 
flag, carrying 22 people and a cargo of medical supplies, including 
#Gauze4Gaza. There are people from 16 nations on board, including 
human rights supporters, journalists and crew, along with €13,000 
worth of medical supplies. The boat itself, a former fishing vessel 
from Norway, is a gift to Palestinian fishers in Gaza.

Four boats left Scandinavia in mid-May and have since stopped in 28 
ports building support for a ‘Just Future for Palestine’, that demands 
Israel end its ongoing breaches of international law and the 
twelve-year blockade of Gaza, thereby enabling the only closed port in 
the Mediterranean to open and for people to have their right to 
freedom of movement. Al Awda is being followed by the Swedish-flagged 
yacht Freedom, which is also carrying medical supplies along with 
people from a number of nations. We anticipate that it will reach a 
similar area where the IOF attacked Al Awda within the next two days. 
Two smaller sailing boats that travelled from Scandinavia and sailed 
through the canal system in Netherlands, Belgium and France visiting 
inland ports, participated in the mission until Palermo.

“The Freedom Flotilla Coalition calls on the Norwegian Government, the 
national governments of those aboard Al Awda and the Freedom, other 
national governments, and relevant international organizations to act 
immediately.”  said Torstein Dahle of Ship to Gaza Norway, part of the 
Freedom Flotilla Coalition. “The international community must assume 
its responsibilities and demand that Israeli authorities ensure the 
safety of those on board, the speedy delivery of our gifts to the 
Palestinian people in Gaza, an end to the illegal blockade of Gaza, 
and to stop impeding our legal right of innocent passage to Gaza to 
deliver our gift of much-needed medical supplies”.

-Ends-

More information about the ‘Right to a Just Future for Palestine’ 
flotilla and the FFC:
Web: https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition
Twitter: @gazafflotilla

To arrange an interview or for more information, contact: 
jfp.freedomflotilla.org/media-room-2

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition : 
freedomflotilla.org/about-freedom-flotilla-coalition/

https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org/sos-just-future-for-palestine

--------------------------

Noam Chomsky’s message to Freedom Flotilla participants.

28.7.2018

https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org/news/video/noam-chomskys-message-to-freedom-flotilla-participants


-- 

     Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
     Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
     Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
     Wolfgangerstr. 26, 4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
     fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
     Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at


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