Cynthia McKinney Taken Captive By Israeli NavyJune 30th, 2009 by Ronald Hardy and Gaza Team
The latest from www.freegaza.org reports that the humanitarian vessel Spirit of Humanity has been attacked and boarded by the Israelis 23 miles off the coast of Gaza. Former US Congresswoman and Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney is among the 21 human rights workers taken prisoner from the ship.
ISRAEL ATTACKS JUSTICE BOAT; KIDNAPS HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS; CONFISCATES MEDICINE, TOYS AND OLIVE TREES
[23 miles off the coast of Gaza, 15:30pm] - Today Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (see below for a complete list of passengers). The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.
"This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip," said Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate. "President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that's exactly what we tried to do. We're asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey."
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are "trapped in despair." Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel's December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel's disruption of medical supplies.
"The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of "Cast Lead". Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone" said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.
Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: "No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children's toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters."
Arraf continued, "Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release."
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Justice
tel: +972 2646 6666 or +972 2646 6340
fax: +972 2646 6357
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
tel: +972 2530 3111
fax: +972 2530 3367
CONTACT Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
tel: +972 5 0620 3264 or +972 2670 5354
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
CONTACT the International Committee of the Red Cross to ask for their assistance in establishing the wellbeing of the kidnapped human rights workers and help in securing their immediate release!
Red Cross Israel
tel: +972 3524 5286
fax: +972 3527 0370
tel_aviv.tel@icrc.org
Red Cross Switzerland:
tel: +41 22 730 3443
fax: +41 22 734 8280
Red Cross USA:
tel: +1 212 599 6021
fax: +1 212 599 6009
###
Kidnapped Passengers from the Spirit of Humanity include:
Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrai, engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association of Bahrain.
Othman Abufalah, Jordan, world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.
Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain, lecturer with the University of Bahrain.
Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen, cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.
Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain, relief worker and community activist from Bahrain.
Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain, journalist & human rights activist.
Huwaida Arraf, US, Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.
Ishmahil Blagrove, UK, Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries focus on international struggles for social justice.
Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain, community activist.
Derek Graham, Ireland, electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate aboard the Spirit of Humanity.
Alex Harrison, UK, solidarity worker from Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Denis Healey, UK, Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth voyage to Gaza.
Fathi Jaouadi, UK, British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.
Mairead Maguire, Ireland, Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.
Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel, Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.
Theresa McDermott, Scotland, solidarity worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Cynthia McKinney, US, an outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice issues, as well as a former U.S. congressperson and presidential candidate.
Adnan Mormesh, UK, a solidarity worker from Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Adam Qvist, Denmark, solidarity worker from Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.
Adam Shapiro, US, an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.
Kathy Sheetz, US, a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.
Since I cannot figure out the read more function
ReplyDeletehere is the rest of the breaking story
[23 miles off the coast of Gaza, 15:30pm] - Today Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (see below for a complete list of passengers). The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.
“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip,” said Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate. “President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.
“The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of “Cast Lead”. Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone” said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.
Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: “No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children’s toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters.”
Arraf continued, “Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release.”
For more information contact:
Greta Berlin (English)
tel: +357 99 081 767 / friends@freegaza.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Caoimhe Butterly (Arabic/English/Spanish):
tel: +357 99 077 820 / sahara78@hotmail.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.FreeGaza.org
Israel is losing friends and support around the world.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is what goes around comes around.
Israel's only claim to that land is some fabricated words from Moses who claimed to have talked to god. Yeah right.
If anyone tried that today they would be instantly considered insane.
We need to send a fleet of humanitarian ships to Gaza escorted by Iranian subs!
Or how about escorted by the new Chinese Navy?
One sad note to this problem is China. I have a lot of friends who are Chinese and one of them his grandfather is a general and high ranking member of government there and they have zero patience for Israelis.
The Chinese are sitting, waiting and watching until their day comes and they are preparing to step up the plate one day in a big way. Israel will not be able to propagandize them or push them around. They will respond and appear to be chomping at the bit to get in on it.
Presently China is arming the enemies of Israel. China has watched what the Israelis have done to America and the Chinese will not let that happen to them under no circumstances.
When you look at the list of nations where they count jews to reside, China is not even listed. Keep an eye out over your shoulder Israel! The Chinese are backing the arabs against you with weapons! They do NOT like YOUR new world order. The Chinese have their own ideas and it don't include playing footsy with Israel.
They are waiting... they are preparing. And things will be different when they take to the world's stage with their ever growing military.
Looks like Israel has other problems on its bloody hands:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1095962.html
Last update - 00:10 28/06/2009
Syria threatens to take back Golan by force
By Haaretz Service
Syrian officials threatened on Saturday to take back the Golan Heights by force if a peace agreement involving the return of the strategic plateau is not reached with Israel, Army Radio reported.
A group calling itself the Syrian Committee for the Freedom of the Golan said it would take steps to regain control of the territory, adding that Israel has not shown willingness to achieve peace or to return what they called "Syrian land."
Israel is setting themselves up. Even the bible says that one day the nations of the world will surround Israel and turn upon Israel. And with their behavior these days I can see why!
They bring it upon themselves and they have no one else to blame but themselves, but they will never do that!
Right on, Levin. You said it best.
ReplyDeleteIrish, and you know I mean that as a compliment, many thanks for posting this here. Various good sites are covering this but I saw it here first, thanks to you.
"Read more" function? Click on the "Helpful Hints" tab, scroll down to the bottom and you'll see my tech tip No. 1 listed as "Alt-something or another".
Israel, Israel. You meant no ham. I meant no harm. You have danced with my Govt. for decades to escape any and all UN SC resolutions. The two of you dance so well. But now, people all over the world see you two for what you are. Ya better get straight!
Well now at least we have a voice in Israel. I am sure Ms. Mckinney will give them a piece of her mind. I would send her some cigarettes but then I would be classified as a terrorist, and after Obama´s tax on tobacco I cant afford them.
ReplyDeleteHey Tony! I went over to OEN yesterday and looked you up. I looked for some contact info, but found none so I gave up. Glad to know you are here where freedom of speech is not contolled by israeli mouthpieces like Rob what's his name- that white man hate speech writer over there.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you over here!
She will probably give them more than a piece of her mind! I surely would not want to be poor SOB who had to interview her! He will probably have to glue his ears back on when she gets done with him!
ReplyDeleteIrish, good grab !!!! Cynthia McKinney rides again into hostile Israeli territory. Those bastards don't know she will never give up. I think Cynthia is our real life "V".
ReplyDeleteAs an aside..I see the "cursed place" has the Stuart Smalley piece headlined and the McKinney piece posted by Meryl Ann in small print under it. Some things never change......... I must say, that website looks really anemic!
Jersey,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I noticed that too.
Sooooooo (with chest puffed up in fookin' Oirish Pride)
Did any of you notice just how many Irish are onn this damned trip?
Here
just for fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pwPlZEA-Aw&feature=related