By the Alternative Information Center (via email) – 31 May 2010
This morning, 31 May 2010, the Israeli navy perpetrated a new crime
against humanity when it attacked the Freedom Flotilla, bound for
Gaza, sailing in international waters. On the boats were 750 people
from 40 different countries, among them 44 parliamentarians and
politicians. Based on the initial news after the attack, the number
killed is 16 and at least 60 are wounded. All the victims are
international activists who helped organized this campaign to end
Israel’s aggressive siege on Gaza that has continued for three years.
This aggressive attack against the Freedom Flotilla is an astounding
crime in meaning and dimension. It is an attack against unarmed
civilian ships. This is a crime and an act of piracy in international
waters. It is a clear breach of international laws and agreements.
Despite Israel’s redeployment from Gaza in 2005, it has continued to
impose a comprehensive siege against the 1.5 million people living in
Gaza.
The Israeli government would not have the courage to commit such a
crime if the international community were brave enough to face
Israel’s continuous violations of international law, if it had the
power and will to force Israel to end its siege and to stop its
aggressive actions against the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people,
and if the same international community had the power to take action
and enforce the necessary procedures to push Israel to end its
occupation and to implement international resolutions. But this very
clear crime against the Freedom Flotilla, which led to international
deaths and dozens of injured, comes under the cover and support of the
Netanyahu government by the American administration and the EU
governments and the silence of the Arab regimes. At the very moment
Israel created a blood bath against civilian ships carrying hundreds
of internationals from many countries, Netanyahu is welcome in the
White House. Meanwhile, Israel continues its settlement policy in
Jerusalem and its aggression against the Palestinian people in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It is the governments of the
international community and their political cover which allow Israel
to continue its action and aggression as a state above and beyond the
law.
The Alternative Information Center (AIC) places complete
responsibility with the Israeli government and we request that the
international, legal, political and humanitarian bodies move
immediately to condemn this crime and to hold Israel accountable for
its harsh actions. We also request the immediate lifting of the siege
on Gaza so supplies can enter without any conditions.
In this context the AIC also calls for civil society organizations in
Israel to move immediately to express their refusal, disgust and
condemnation for this crime.
Now is the moment for the international community to raise its voice
against these aggressive policies, it is the moment to take immediate
political and legal action to hold Israel to account for its crimes,
it is the moment to lift the siege against Gaza, it is the moment to
force Israel to implement international resolutions, to end the
occupation and to recognize the international rights of the
Palestinian people. If this does not happen more blood will be shed.
The complete IOA coverage of the Gaza Flotilla
