Gaza
Vredesboot naar Gaza geramd door Israëlische marine
30-12-2008
URGENT: Isreal attacking Free Gaza Boat!!!
Boat carrying activists and relief to Gaza 'rammed' by Israeli ship
..... Meanwhile, an Israeli naval vessel has blocked pro-Palestinian activists trying to carry medical aid to Gaza by sea and escorted their boat back to Cyprus.
The two vessels collided during the incident, causing damage to both boats but no injuries. The activists said the naval vessel had rammed them after they ignored warning shots fired across their bow......
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:
(Gaza) Ewa Jasiewicz, +972 598 700 497 / freelance@mailworks.org
(Cyprus) Lubna Masarwa +357 99 081 767 / lubnna@gmail.com
(U.S.) Greta Berlin, +1 310 422 7242 / iristulip@gmail.com
(Larnaca, Cyprus, 10:00 am) On Tuesday, December 30, at 5 a.m., several Israeli gunboats intercepted the Dignity as she was heading on a mission of mercy to Gaza. One gunboat rammed into the boat on the port bow side, heavily damaging her. The reports from passengers and journalists on board say that she is taking on water and appears to have engine problems. When attacked, the Dignity was clearly in international waters, 90 miles off the coast of Gaza.
The gunboats also fired their machine guns into the water in an attempt to stop the mercy ship from getting to Gaza.
As the boat limps toward Lebanon, passengers have been in contact with the Lebanese government, who say the captain has permission to dock and are willing to lend assistance if needed. Cyprus sea rescue has also been in touch, and offered assistance as well. The Dignity clearly flies the flag of Gibraltar, is piloted by an English captain and has a passenger manifest that includes Representative Cynthia McKinney from the U.S. The Israeli Government Press Office director was faxed the passenger list and press release last night, after Dignity set sail. The attack was filmed by the journalists, and crew and passengers will report on Israel's crime at sea on arrival in Lebanon.
On board the boat are doctors traveling to this impoverished slice of the Mediterranean to provide badly-needed relief at the hospitals there. The crew and passengers were also hoping to take wounded out for treatment, since the hospitals are totally unable to cope. In addition, the Dignity was carrying 3 tons of medical supplies at the request of the doctors in Gaza.
The three physicians on board who were sailing to Gaza are: Dr. Halpin (UK), an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, medical professor, and ship's captain. He has organized humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza on several occasions with the Dove and Dolphin. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics as is Dr. Mohamed Issa (Germany), a pediatric surgeon from Germany. Dr. Elena Theoharous, MP (Cyprus), is a surgeon and Member of the Cypriot Parliament. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict, assist with humanitarian relief efforts, and volunteer in hospitals.
Yet Israel thumbs its nose in the face of maritime law by attacking a human rights boat in international waters, thereby putting all of these human rights observers at risk. At no time was the Dignity ever close to Israeli waters. They clearly identified themselves in advance of the attack, which was willful and criminal.
The Dignity is still in international waters, 40 miles off Haifa. Everybody on board is safe at the moment as the boat slowly makes its way to safety in Lebanon. Meantime, worldwide protests against Israel’s disproportionate aggression and war-crime attacks on Gazan civilians are gathering momentum, including citywide across the USA, with multiple demonstrations in main cities.
Bron: BBC, Aljazeera
