News

Friday, 03 July 2009 09:07 Written by Free Gaza Team

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zVJXnTJxuA&feature=player_embedded

News

Friday, 03 July 2009 01:13 Last Updated on Friday, 03 July 2009 01:14 Written by Free Gaza Movement

2 July 2009
GENEVA - The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Richard Falk, denounced the unlawful naval seizure by an Israeli gunboat on the high seas of a ship carrying medicine and reconstruction material to blockaded people of Gaza. 

“This Israeli action implements its cruel blockade of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza, in violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention that prohibits any form of collective punishment directed at an occupied people”, said the human rights expert.

Mr. Falk pointed to a recent report on the impact on health resulting from the two year blockade, issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross, stressing that Israeli actions not only restrict such vital supplies as food, medicine, and fuel to bare subsistence levels, but has in unprecedented fashion, disallowed the entry to Gaza of building materials and spare parts needed for repairing some of the widespread damage caused by its attacks on the Strip that took place for 22 days starting on December 27, 2008.

“Such a pattern of continuing blockade under these conditions amounts to such a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions as to constitute a continuing crime against humanity”, added the independent human rights expert. 

The boat in question had been inspected in response to Israeli demands before departure by the port authorities in Cyprus to determine whether there were weapons on board. None were found, and Israeli authorities were so informed.

Nonetheless, the 21 peace activists on the boat were arrested, held in captivity, and have been charged with ‘illegal entry’ to Israel even though they had no intention of going to Israel. The group included such prominent figures as the Irish winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Mairead Maguire, and the former American congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
###

For more information on the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967: http://www.ohchr.org/SP/countries/MENARegion/Pages/PSIndex.aspx

For interview requests, please contact Linnéa Arvidsson (+41 22 928 9126, larvidsson[at]ohchr.org)

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Media Unit
Rupert Colville, Spokesperson: + 41 22 917 9767
Xabier Celaya, Information Officer: + 41 22 917 9383

For inquiries and media requests: press-info[at]ohchr.org

News

Thursday, 02 July 2009 20:25 Written by Free Gaza Team

Press Release

Thursday 2nd July 2009

London, 2 July, (ECESG) - The European campaign to end the siege on
Gaza (ECESG) called today for international human rights organizations
and lobbying groups to organize large protests in front of Israeli
embassies across Europe in solidarity with activists of Freegaza
Movement. Activists onboard of the humanitarian boat were kidnapped by
Israeli naval forces while they were sailing in a peaceful mission to
end the siege.

The call aims at creating factual movements on the ground to release
"the spirit of humanity" activists. Additionally, head of ECESG, Dr.
Arafat Madi contacted EU officials and MPs to urge on moving to
release the activists immediately.

Read more...

HOPE FLEET

Thursday, 02 July 2009 20:15 Last Updated on Thursday, 02 July 2009 20:24 Written by Free Gaza Team

Interview to Maired Maguire by Democracynow:

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/2/nobel_peace_laureate_mairead_maguire_speaks

News

Thursday, 02 July 2009 18:17 Written by Free Gaza Team

"Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin today called for the swift release of two Irish nationals currently detained in Israel following the June 30 seizure of a boat en route to Gaza with humanitarian aid.

The two, Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire and Derek Graham, are awaiting deportation following the seizure of vessel The Spirit of Humanity.

In a statement, Minister Martin said his department has been closely following the situation and was in ongoing contact with Israeli authorities.

Read more...