Atlanta Progressive News

On Tuesday 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
were forcibly dragged to 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, Bahrain Khalad is an engineer
representing the Islamic Charitable Association of
Bahrain.

Othman Abufalah, Jordan Othman is a world-renowned
journalist with al-Jazeera TV.

Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain Khaled is a lecturer with the
University of Bahrain.

Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen Mansour is a cameraman with Al-
Jazeera TV.

Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain Fatima is a relief worker and
community activist from Bahrain.

Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain Juhaina is a journalist & human
rights activist.

Huwaida Arraf, US Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza
Movement and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.

Ishmahil Blagrove, UK Ishmahil is a 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 Kaltham is a community
activist.

Derek Graham, Ireland Derek Graham is an electrician,
Free Gaza organizer, and first mate aboard the Spirit
of Humanity.

Alex Harrison, UK Alex is a solidarity worker from
Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human
rights monitoring.

Denis Healey, UK Denis is Captain of the Spirit of
Humanity. This will be his fifth voyage to Gaza.

Fathi Jaouadi, UK Fathi is a British journalist, Free
Gaza organizer, and delegation co-coordinator for this
voyage.

Mairead Maguire, Ireland Mairead is a Nobel laureate
and renowned peace activist.

Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel Lubna is a Palestinian
human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.

Theresa McDermott, Scotland Theresa is a solidarity
worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza to do
long-term human rights monitoring.

Cynthia McKinney, US Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken
advocate for human rights and social justice issues, as
well as a former U.S. congressperson and presidential
candidate.

Adnan Mormesh, UK Adnan is a solidarity worker from
Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human
rights monitoring.

Adam Qvist, Denmark Adam is a solidarity worker from
Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to do human rights
monitoring.

Adam Shapiro, US Adam is an American documentary film
maker and human rights activist.

Kathy Sheetz, US Kathy is a nurse and film maker,

Updates:  http://www.FreeGaza.org