Some of the UK Free Gaza 21 detainees are expected to be deported from Israel this morning. The news comes after mounting international pressure following their recent ‘kidnap’ by Israeli Occupation Forces from their boat, Spirit of Humanity. The aid vessel was carrying a consignment of aid relief destined for poverty stricken Palestinians, imprisoned on the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, June 30, 21 Free Gaza members, including Irish Human Rights workers, Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire. The Free Gaza 21 group of detainees also include, former US congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, and peace activists from Bahrain, Britain, the US, Jamaica and the Palestinian territories. The relief mission, lead by Peace People founder (65) and former Irish soldier Derek Graham (40), left Cyprus in January were stopped 24 nautical miles from the Gaza coast by the Israeli Navy. The majority of those arrested were transferred to the notorious Ramle Prison, one of many Israeli jails that house upto 11,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Today’s Irish Sunday papers all called for the release of the detainees with political figure heads including Sinn Fein’s President Gerry Adams;
“The purpose of their mission is very clear. They were intent on bringing much needed humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza. There is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza....................I call on the Irish government and on other EU states to demand the release of Irish and other citizens illegally arrested in international waters, that the confiscated humanitarian aid on board, which had been cleared by the customs of another EU country, Cyprus, be returned and that the boat be released and allowed proceed on its way.”
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin has also added his voice for the immediate release from the Israeli prisons.
“The Israeli government need to open the crossings immediately and allow the free flow of aid.”
For more information visit FreeGaza.org
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1 comments:
I really feel badly about them not getting in. I had several friends on the Hope convoy to Gaza in May/June and our people got in finally. What really got to me was the welcome our people got from the people once inside. They love the Irish and feel much in common with our people's struggle. Five minutes after arriving in to Gaza, one fellow ran up with his mobile phone and played "four green fields" how's that for a heartbreak. And then there was this:
http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/2009/06/7-meeting-prisoners-families.html
all the best,
Aoife
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