By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
JERUSALEM, Israel–On Friday 04 November 2011, Israeli authorities detained pro-Palestinian activists, journalists, and crewmembers on board two self-deemed “Freedom Waves to Gaza” vessels. These ships were intending to break the four-year Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory, attempting to bring medical supplies to Gaza.
The Canadian vessel, the Tahrir (Arabic for “liberation”), and Irish vessel, the MV Saoirse (Gaelic for “freedom”) both were forced to sail into the Israeli port of Ashdod, where all 27 passengers were handed over to Israeli authorities and taken to an Israeli detention facility near Tel Aviv. The activists were from as many as eight countries, including the United States, and set sail from Turkey on Wednesday 02 November 2011. Both ships were approximately 50 nautical miles from the Gaza shoreline when they were contacted by the Israeli navy and told to turn around, reported the AFP news agency.
The Israeli navy said it “advised the vessels that they may turn back at any point, thereby not breaking the maritime security blockade” or could sail to Ashdod or an Egyptian port. According to the AFP news agency, the activists refused to cooperate and then Israeli naval ships approached the boats and boarded them before towing them towards Ashdod.
The group of activists claimed that the Israeli navy undertook “violent and dangerous” seizures methods to obtain the vessels. Fintan Lane, the group’s coordinator, stated that the Israelis pointed guns at the passengers and turned high-pressure hoses on the Irish and Canadian boats, blasting out windows and causing a collision that left the Saoirse badly damaged.
“The method used in the takeover was dangerous to human life. The Israeli forces initially wanted to leave the boats at sea, but the abductees demanded that they not be left to float at sea, for they would have been lost and possibly sunk.”
The Israeli Navy released the following statement.
“The Israeli Navy soldiers operated as planned, and took every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the activists onboard the vessels as well as themselves.”
Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld reported that the activists would be questioned by police and immigrations officials and then returned to their respective home countries.
“The Gaza area and coastal region are closed to maritime traffic as part of a blockade imposed for security purposes. Your attempt to enter the Gaza Strip by sea is a violation of international law. We remind you that humanitarian supplies can be delivered to Gaza Strip by land, and you are welcome to enter Ashdod port and deliver supplies through land crossings.”
The organizers of the flotilla claimed that six people, including the captains of both vessels and two journalists, had been released by the evening of Sunday 06 November 2011. The remainder refused to sign waivers allowing their deportation, according to a statement on the Irish activist group’s website.
“They are refusing to sign not because they are legally challenging deportation or are demanding to see a judge, but rather because the waiver says that they came to Israel voluntarily and that they entered the country illegal. Of course, this is a lie and they won’t agree to it.”
Last year, Israeli troops killed nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists when they resisted an Israeli operation to halt a similar flotilla. Each side pointed a finger at the other for the responsibility of the violence. Israel claimed that that its troops had fired live ammunition only after activists, armed with clubs, knives, and metals bars attacked them and felt that their lives were threatened. The activists claimed that they were attacked first.
After the incident, Israel was forced to ease its land blockade on Gaza, which was imposed in 2006 and tightened, with the Egyptian cooperation, after Hamas seized control of the territory the following year.
Al-Jazeera correspondent Nicole Johnston reported, from the port of Ashdod, shared these sentiments on the continued attempts to bring supplies via water freely into Gaza.
“Another failed attempt for the season of flotillas to Gaza. This attempt was a lot quieter. It left on Wednesday from Turkey. There was no great fanfare with it, but again it didn’t succeed in getting past the Israeli navy, and achieving its aim which was to symbolically break this four-year siege on Gaza.”
The residents of Gaza have endured absolutely deplorable living conditions for some time. They depend every day on international aid and support. According to a 2008 UN Envoy to Gaza, more than 80 percent of the population is dependent upon food aid. Rates of anemia and diarrhea among children have rise to 40 percent in the last several years.
Israel claims that it is concerned about the smuggling of arms to Gaza militants intent on attacking the Jewish state. Gaza is controlled by Hamas, an openly anti-Israel militant group, and is classified as a terrorist group by the United States and Israel.
After prayers on Friday 04 November 2011 at a Gaza City mosque, Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas prime minister shared these sentiments concerning the activists on the boats.
“Your message has been delivered whether you make it or not. The siege is unjust and must end.”
For more information, please see:
CNN – Israel Deports Activists From Gaza-Bound Aid Ships – 06 November 2011
Al-Jazeera – Activists On Gaza-Bound Vessels Detained – 05 November 2011
Ahram – Egyptian Journalist Among Those On Captured Gaza Aid Boats – 05 November 2011
BBC – Israel Boards Protest Boats Taking Medical Aid to Gaza – 04 November 2011
NYT – Israel Intercepts Two Boats Bound For Gaza – 04 November 2011
The Guardian – Israeli Navy Boards Gaza-Bound Boats – 04 November 2011
Reuters – Israeli Navy Intercepts Gaza-Bound Boats – 04 November 2011
