For Immediate Release
October 26, 2008
Contact: Greta Berlin, Cyprus: +357 99 08 17 67
Angela Godfrey Goldstein, Jerusalem: +972 547 366 393
Huwaida Arraf: Cyprus +357 96 723 999
October 26, 2008
Contact: Greta Berlin, Cyprus: +357 99 08 17 67
Angela Godfrey Goldstein, Jerusalem: +972 547 366 393
Huwaida Arraf: Cyprus +357 96 723 999
On Saturday, October 25, 2008, the Free Gaza Movement sent our formal notice
to Israel, the Occupying Power in the Gaza Strip, that we intend to enter
the port of Gaza City on October 29. We expect no interference from the
Israeli authorities. Although our message acknowledges Israel's control over
Gaza, we do not accept Israel's right to prevent us from sailing into the
Gaza Strip. [See attachment for text of the letter].
As part of the message, we invited Aharon Abramovitz, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and/or Ehud Barak, Minister of Defense, to join the voyage to
witness first hand the devastating effects of Israel's illegal policies on
the occupied civilian population of the Gaza Strip (Please leave your
weapons at home, we are nonviolent).
Huwaida Arraf, a spokesperson for the Free Gaza Movement said, "Israel is
committing war crimes by imposing collective punishment on the 1.5 million
people in Gaza. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Conventions prohibits their
actions. However, since Israel is the Occupying Power and maintains
effective control of the area, we have put them on notice that we're coming.
Since they grossly abuse their power, we are not asking them for their
permission."
Israel continues to exert behind-the-scenes pressure on many of the people
who have been assisting the Free Gaza Movement, hoping they can stop the
boat before it leaves port. Despite their massive pressure, threats and
intimidation last August, Israel ultimately admitted to the world that we
were nonviolent and did not constitute any kind of security threat, and our
boats sailed safely into the port of Gaza, the first boats filled with
Internationals to arrive there in 41 years. Israel is at it again, this time
trying to stop us before we leave the port.
"It's ridiculous that Israel is so frightened of us. We are carrying doctors
and human rights activists, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead
Maguire. We also have medical supplies on board our boat; there is
absolutely no reason why they should stand in our way this time either,"
said organizer Greta Berlin.
Official Notification of Intent to Enter (Attachment sent by email and fax)
October 25, 2008
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 in
the Gaza Strip that on October 28, 2008, (weather permitting) we are
navigating a vessel from the Port of Larnaca to the port of Gaza City. Our
vessel will be flying the flag of Gibraltar, and, as such, falls under the
jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.
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 are carrying 6 cubic meters of urgently needed medical supplies in sealed
boxes, cleared by customs at the Larnaca International Airport. There will
be a total of 26 passengers and crew on board, among them several
physicians. Our boat and cargo will also have received security clearance
from the Port Authorities in Cyprus before we depart.
As it will be confirmed that neither we, nor the cargo, nor any of the
boat's contents, nor the boat itself 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.
We hereby extend an invitation to Aharon Abramovitz from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs or Ehud Barak from the Ministry of Defense to join us on
board so that they can witness the draconian effects of Israel's policies on
the civilian population of the occupied Gaza Strip.
The Steering Committee of the Free Gaza Movement
--
Greta Berlin
Media Team
Free Gaza Movement
357 99 08 17 67
www.freegaza.org
to Israel, the Occupying Power in the Gaza Strip, that we intend to enter
the port of Gaza City on October 29. We expect no interference from the
Israeli authorities. Although our message acknowledges Israel's control over
Gaza, we do not accept Israel's right to prevent us from sailing into the
Gaza Strip. [See attachment for text of the letter].
As part of the message, we invited Aharon Abramovitz, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and/or Ehud Barak, Minister of Defense, to join the voyage to
witness first hand the devastating effects of Israel's illegal policies on
the occupied civilian population of the Gaza Strip (Please leave your
weapons at home, we are nonviolent).
Huwaida Arraf, a spokesperson for the Free Gaza Movement said, "Israel is
committing war crimes by imposing collective punishment on the 1.5 million
people in Gaza. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Conventions prohibits their
actions. However, since Israel is the Occupying Power and maintains
effective control of the area, we have put them on notice that we're coming.
Since they grossly abuse their power, we are not asking them for their
permission."
Israel continues to exert behind-the-scenes pressure on many of the people
who have been assisting the Free Gaza Movement, hoping they can stop the
boat before it leaves port. Despite their massive pressure, threats and
intimidation last August, Israel ultimately admitted to the world that we
were nonviolent and did not constitute any kind of security threat, and our
boats sailed safely into the port of Gaza, the first boats filled with
Internationals to arrive there in 41 years. Israel is at it again, this time
trying to stop us before we leave the port.
"It's ridiculous that Israel is so frightened of us. We are carrying doctors
and human rights activists, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead
Maguire. We also have medical supplies on board our boat; there is
absolutely no reason why they should stand in our way this time either,"
said organizer Greta Berlin.
Official Notification of Intent to Enter (Attachment sent by email and fax)
October 25, 2008
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 in
the Gaza Strip that on October 28, 2008, (weather permitting) we are
navigating a vessel from the Port of Larnaca to the port of Gaza City. Our
vessel will be flying the flag of Gibraltar, and, as such, falls under the
jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.
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 are carrying 6 cubic meters of urgently needed medical supplies in sealed
boxes, cleared by customs at the Larnaca International Airport. There will
be a total of 26 passengers and crew on board, among them several
physicians. Our boat and cargo will also have received security clearance
from the Port Authorities in Cyprus before we depart.
As it will be confirmed that neither we, nor the cargo, nor any of the
boat's contents, nor the boat itself 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.
We hereby extend an invitation to Aharon Abramovitz from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs or Ehud Barak from the Ministry of Defense to join us on
board so that they can witness the draconian effects of Israel's policies on
the civilian population of the occupied Gaza Strip.
The Steering Committee of the Free Gaza Movement
--
Greta Berlin
Media Team
Free Gaza Movement
357 99 08 17 67
www.freegaza.org
