June 24, 2009
To: The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Fax: 972-3-697-6717
To: The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax: 972-2-5303367
From: The Free Gaza Movement
This letter serves as a formal notification to you, as the Occupying Power
and belligerent force in the Gaza Strip, that on Thursday, June 25, 2009
we are navigating the motor vessel Spirit of Humanity, and the motor
vessel Free Gaza from the Port of Larnaca to the port of Gaza City. Our
vessels will be flying the Greek flags, and, as such, fall under the
jurisdiction Greece.
We will be sailing from Cypriot waters into international waters, then
directly into the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip without entering or
nearing Israeli territorial waters.
We will be carrying medical supplies in sealed boxes, as well as crayons,
coloring books and toys for children, cleared by customs at the Larnaca
International Airport and the Port of Larnaca. We will also be carrying
300 bags of cement delivered directly from the supplier to the Port of
Larnaca. There will be passengers and crew on board from 14 different
countries. Our boats and cargo will have received security clearance from
the Port Authorities in Cyprus before we depart.
As it will be confirmed that neither we, the cargo, any of the boats'
contents, nor the boats themselves constitute any threat to the security
of Israel or its armed forces, we do not expect any interference with our
voyage by Israel's authorities.
On Tuesday, December 30, an Israeli Navy vessel violently, and without
warning, attacked our motor vessel Dignity, disabling the vessel and
endangering the lives of the 16 civilians on board. This notice serves as
clear notification to you of our approach. Any attack on the motor
vessels, Spirit of Humanity and/or Free Gaza will be premeditated and any
harm inflicted on the people on board will be considered the result of a
deliberate attack on unarmed civilians.
A copy of this notification has been sent to the embassies of the
civilians who will be on board.
For More Information, Please Contact: Greta Berlin, +357 96 471 263 or
Ramzi Kysia, +357 99 081 767
www.FreeGaza.org