Gaza, July 01: In another act of piracy outside its territorial waters, the Zionist regime’s navy seized a foreign vessel carrying humanitarian assistance for Gaza and forcibly diverted it and all onboard to Israel on Tuesday.
The “Spirit of Humanity” was carrying 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire and former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
The crew was detained by the Israeli military, who said they would “be handed over to the proper authorities.”
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released Monday, the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip are “trapped in despair.”
Ten of thousands of Gazans, whose homes were destroyed during Israel’s December 2008-January 2009 onslaught against their blockaded enclave, are still without shelter, despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid because the Zionist regime refuses to allow cement and other construction 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.
Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, the Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator of the voyage, stated, “No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel.”
He explained that they were carrying medical and reconstruction supplies, and toys for children. “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.”
“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,” Arraf said.
—–Agencies