European Demonstrations set at Israeli Embasies in Support for 21 Kidnapped Human Rights Activists

ALERT: Demonstrations today:
Press Release

Thursday 2nd July 2009

Action Alert: Protests in front of Israeli embassies tomorrow

London, 2 July, (ECESG) - The European campaign to end the siege on
Gaza (ECESG) called today for international human rights organizations
and lobbying groups to organize large protests in front of Israeli
embassies across Europe in solidarity with activists of Freegaza
Movement. Activists onboard of the humanitarian boat were kidnapped by
Israeli naval forces while they were sailing in a peaceful mission to
end the siege.

The call aims at creating factual movements on the ground to release
"the spirit of humanity" activists. Additionally, head of ECESG, Dr.
Arafat Madi contacted EU officials and MPs to urge on moving to
release the activists immediately.

British Baroness, Jenny Tonge, expressed her deep anger and concerns
towards the Israeli doing. She said that, “I shall take up the
matter with the Foreign office.”

Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has described
the Israeli government’s decision to board and hijack a peace boat
on route to Gaza carrying medical aid as contemptible, adding; “The
piracy of the Israeli Navy in boarding the boat in international
waters and towing it towards Israel this is yet another astounding
example of just how beyond reproach this administration believes it
is.”

The boat was boarded by highly-profiled people like Mairead Maguire,
winner of a Noble Peace Prize and a former U.S. congressperson,
Cynthia McKinney. The vessel was forcibly taken to one of the Israeli
seaports under direct threats from naval boats.

Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize was taken against her will and
isolated from the rest of the team. The Israeli army cared about
neither her old age nor her position. Two activists were released only
while the rest are in Israeli detention of Ramallah. The exemplary
punishment against the activists is a small glimpse of what's
happening to 12 thousand Palestinians in Israeli jails.

ECESG is organizing a number of protests in various European
countries to call on releasing the kidnapped peace activists.

Actions’ Timetable

Israeli Embassy in Roma, Italy

Location: Via Michele Mercati, 14

In front of the Israeli embassy

3rd of July 2009

12:30 pm

Embassy of Israel in Copenhagen, Denmark

Lundevangsvej 4

2900 Hellerup

12:30 pm

Israel Embassy, Sweden

Torstenssonsgatan 4

Stockholm

Sweden

12:30 pm

Embassy of Israel

Chancellery

Alpenstrasse 32

P.O.Box

3006 Bern

12:30 pm

Israeli Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands

Embassy of Israel in The Hague, Netherlands

Ambassade van Israel

Buitenhof 47

2513 AH Den Haag

12:30 pm

The boat was bringing a largely symbolic cargo of humanitarian goods to the people of Gaza - medicines, toys, cement for rebuilding of homes destroyed by Israel during its latest murderous assault on Gaza. Its crew included an Irish first mate, Derek Graham from County Mayo, and its passengers included the Irish Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire and the former US presidential candidate and Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
These brave people risked their lives because the world's governments have failed consistently to fulfil their duty of protection towards the people of Gaza. Under international law, Gaza remains occupied territory as long as Israel controls its borders, airspace and marine access. Under international humanitarian law, the people of Gaza are a "protected people", yet instead of protecting them the world's governments - in particular those of the USA and EU, which have particular responsibilities towards the Middle East region - have connived with Israel's illegal blockade of the Strip, and thus have made themselves complicit with Israel's war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This is what happened on June 30th.

I spoke to derek aboard the spirit of humanity about 40 mins ago. The are all doing well. 2 israeli gunships are now flanking both their pot and starboard side ( was previously 8, thretening to shoot and or board the boat) but have stopped communicating with them and interfering with their radio. They are approximately 20 miles from the international port of gaza, maybe 2 1/2 hours away, insh`allah.

Obviously i am not on board. We had so much pressure from many sides throughout the week, that in the end only one boat was allowed to leave, because of this i stepped aside to allow others in to gaza. Derek is on board but will return with the boat at the end of the week and we will once again make plans to head in in the next 10 or so days. So, on board we have 21 human rights workers, media and activists including 2 irish, derek and ( nobel peace prize winner) Mairead McGuire from Belfast.

Hopefully , my next update will be the safe arrival of the spirit of humanity , and 2 irish in gaza.

I will also fill you in on exactly what has been happening for the last week but at this stage do not want to jeopardise any ones safety by going in to details,

We are not the story.

Since its founding in 1948 the State of Israel has regularly kidnapped and tortured Palestinians, throwing them into forgotten prisons where they can languish for years. Today, over 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners without benefit of due process, some never even charged – men, women, and children – endure torture and isolation in Israeli jails, outdoor prison camps, and secret black sites. They come from all walks of life: doctors, journalists, parliamentarians, workers, resistance fighters, homemakers, students and others. They are our sisters and brothers.

The 21 passengers aboard the Spirit of Humanity have been illegally incarcerated for their solidarity work with Palestine. 11,000 other members of our common human family are already imprisoned simply for being Palestinian.

The Siege of Palestine is not simply the physical blockade against Gaza. The Siege includes the hundreds of checkpoints throughout the West Bank that separate families and communities and shatter any prospect for a viable Palestinian state. The Siege includes the millions of Palestinians in Diaspora, many of them dumped in squalid refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere. The Siege is ever-present throughout all aspects of Palestinian life.

This Siege is only strengthened when we pay more attention to the injustice done to 21 international solidarity workers than we do to the much greater injustices already being committed against millions of Palestinians.

We in the Free Gaza Movement implore all the good people around the world who have working so hard to secure the release of our friends to “adopt” a Palestinian prisoner. We ask you to learn about the crisis and take on the cause of an individual prisoner as your own. Break the Siege! Reach out to Palestine!

For more information, please visit

http://www.FreeGaza.org, as well as the following prisoner information websites:

• http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=7209&CategoryId=4 •

http://sumoud.tao.ca/?q=node/view/76 •

http://palestinianprisoners.blogspot.com/2009/04/palestinian-prisoners-families-...

• http://www.btselem.org/english/statistics/Detainees_and_Prisoners.asp ###

For More Information, Please Contact: — Niamh Moloughney Irish Free Gaza Coordinator niamh@freegaza.org 091 472279/085 7747257

Greta Berlin (English) tel: +357 99 28 41 02 / friends@freegaza.org

' We are going to start mobilizing the mainstream in Europe on popular and official levels. The campaign would form a front of politicians and MPs to release the activists and ending the siege on Gaza".

About time too. Let's end this state of affairs.

Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire Speaks from Israeli Jail Cell After Arrest on Boat Delivering Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
HOPE FLEET
Thursday, 02 July
Interview to Maired Maguire by Democracynow:

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/2/nobel_peace_laureate_mairead_maguire_speaks

Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister called for release of Irish activists detained
News
Thursday, 02 July 2009 1
"Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin today called for the swift release of two Irish nationals currently detained in Israel following the June 30 seizure of a boat en route to Gaza with humanitarian aid.
The two, Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire and Derek Graham, are awaiting deportation following the seizure of vessel The Spirit of Humanity.

In a statement, Minister Martin said his department has been closely following the situation and was in ongoing contact with Israeli authorities.

Washington Post makes fun of kidnapped human rights workers-how sick is THAT!?! read the story at the link
http://current.com/items/90322743_washington-post-makes-fun-of-kidnapped-human-r...

hamas maybe be a terrorist organization but israel is a terrorist nation.

Please show your support...
Please contact your local newspapers and TV stations, government officials and embassies. Please call the numbers below and demand that Israel free the 21 innocent people kidnapped today, as well as the over 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners currently held in Israeli jails. They all need your help.

CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Justice
tel: 00972 2646 6666 or 00972 2646 6340
fax: 00972 2646 6357

CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
tel: 00972 2530 3155 or 00972 2530 3111
fax: 00972 2530 3367

CONTACT Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
tel: 00972 2670 5354 or 00972 5 0620 3264
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: 00972 3524 5286
fax: 00972 3527 0370

Red Cross Switzerland:
tel: 0041 22 730 3443
fax: 0041 22 734 8280

Red Cross USA:
tel: 001 212 599 6021
fax: 001 212 599 6009