Dear friends,
the Israeli military has carried out another act of war and piracy on the high seas. In the early hours of the morning Australian time, the Israeli military intercepted, boarded and took control of the two freedom boats on their way to Gaza. Activists and boats have reportedly been take to Ashdod.
Please find below media release from the Australia Free Gaza support team for Michael Coleman who was on board the Tahrir. Also included is a media release by the Canadian support team for the Tahrir and the Irish support team for the Saoirse.
You can keep updated on twitter as to what is happening with the following hash tag/twitter accounts: #FreedomWaves @IrishShiptoGaza @CanadaBoatGaza
in solidarity,
Kim
***
signs posted by activists on the Tahrir telling Israeli Ocucpation Forces they were engaging in piracy and that the blockade of Gaza is illegal.
Video from Michael Coleman
***
Israeli Occupation Forces Illegally board Freedom Waves boats to Gaza: Australian Detained
URGENT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saturday 5 November 7:15am
ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES ILLEGALLY BOARD FREEDOM WAVES BOATS TO GAZA: AUSTRALIAN DETAINED
All communication was cut late last night to Freedom Waves boats
Tahrir and MV Saoirse as they were sailing in international waters,
approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.
The Tahrir was carrying 12 crew and passengers, including Australian
Michael Coleman, whilst the Saoirse had 15 people on board. Earlier this
morning we contacted DFAT who advised that it will contact the
Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Free Gaza Australia Spokesperson Kate Ausburn said “We are still
awaiting a response to earlier communication to Australia’s Foreign
Minister Kevin Rudd. When will Kevin or Julia pick up the phone to
Netanyahu? Or maybe they are content that Israel has ‘stopped the
boats’?”
An hour earlier, two naval vessels of the Israeli Occupation Forces
(IOF) were sighted rapidly approaching and then made radio contact. On
board the Tahrir, Ehab Latoyef from the organising committee in Canada
responded to the radio requests for the Tahrir’s final destination with
“the conscience of humanity” and when the question was repeated, “the
betterment of mankind”.
An IOF spokesperson has stated that the boats were taken to the port
of Ashdod, and that Israeli police have taken the passengers into
custody. Although the IOF spokesperson claimed they took “every
precaution to ensure the safety of the activists,” Freedom Waves to Gaza
organisers have been unable to communicate with the ships since soon
after Israeli warships approached the vessels.
U.S. Coordinator Jane Hirschmann commented, “Had the passengers been
permitted to proceed to Gaza rather than being stopped on the high seas
by armed force, there would have been no threat to their safety. The
IOF’s statement is like the mugger promising to escort his victim home
safely.”
Free Gaza Australia calls on the Australian Government to immediately
demand that the Israeli government condemn this act of piracy by the
Israeli government and not harm any passengers aboard the Tahrir or its
sister ship MV Saoirse.
The Tahrir and the MV Saoirse have every legal right to proceed to
Gaza unimpeded. A group of five United Nations Special Rapporteurs for
human rights on 13 September 2011 declared “the blockade of Gaza
continues to violate international law”.
The UN Human Rights Council Inquiry Report of September 2010
concluded that the blockade is illegal and Israeli policies in Gaza are a
form of collective punishment. There is no legal justification for
stopping or in any way impeding the passage of the totally peaceful
Freedom Waves boats from the international solidarity movement with
Palestinian people.
End
For more information, contact:
Vivienne Porzsolt 0411 366 295 Kate Ausburn 0423 914 543
Vivienne Porzsolt 0411 366 295 Kate Ausburn 0423 914 543
Websites: www.tahrir.ca // www.freegazaoz.org
Email: freegazaaustralia@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GazaAustralia
Twitter: @GFFAusGroup
Email: freegazaaustralia@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GazaAustralia
Twitter: @GFFAusGroup
Extra resources
PHOTO- Michael Coleman in protective gear while on board Tahrir during the morning of Friday 4 November. Click here
PHOTO- Michael Coleman from Sydney with the Tahrir as it prepared to leave port for Gaza. Click here.
Report from Press TV: Click here
****
Canadian press release:
Contact lost with Freedom Waves to Gaza in Eastern Mediterranean
For Immediate Release
November 4, 2011
Contact lost with Freedom Waves to Gaza in Eastern Mediterranean
Canadian and Irish ships sailing with Freedom Waves to Gaza are likely being illegally boarded and commandeered right now by the Israeli military in international waters – or they are about to be. Freedom Waves to Gaza organizers have been unable to communicate with the ships since soon after the vessels were approached by Israeli warships.
The Freedom Waves to Gaza initiative is a non-violent, civil society movement to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
“We have lost contact with the Tahrir and the Saoirse and are hoping for the best, but we fear the worst, given what now appears to be a communications blackout,” says Canadian Boat to Gaza organizer Dylan Penner. "Several regularly scheduled check-ins haven’t happened, and we have been unable to reach those aboard. Given Israel’s stated intent to illegally board the ships, it seems likely that they are doing so.”
“It appears Israel has yet again illegally boarded peaceful boats sailing to Gaza through international waters. We’re deeply concerned for all our friends aboard given the Israeli government’s cavalier disregard for human life,” says Wendy Goldsmith, an organizer with the Canadian Boat to Gaza. “This is simply outrageous and will only further isolate Israel from the international community. We’re calling on people from coast to coast and around the world to take to the streets in emergency solidarity rallies. We call on the Canadian government to fulfill its obligations by protesting Israel’s illegal pirating of a Canadian ship in international waters, and to demand safety and immediate release of the delegates and property.”
Emergency protests are being planned for several cities across Canada. Information on these solidarity actions will be posted to www.tahrir.ca <http://www.tahrir.ca/> as it becomes available.
“The basic fact that we reached international waters is another victory for the movement. We are closer to Gaza this time, and hope to get even closer the next time, until we reach our destination,” said Canadian Boat to Gaza organizer David Heap from aboard the Tahrir before contact was lost. “Despite economic blackmail, despite the previous outsourcing of the blockade to Greece, and despite Israel mobilizing a significant portion of its navy to stop us, we are now even closer to reaching Gaza and breaking the blockade.”
Despite months of political, military, secret service, and bureaucratic interference, the Canadian Boat to Gaza and the Irish Boat to Gaza had managed to reach international waters. Bios of delegates on board the Tahrir are available here:
http://www.tahrir.ca/content/delegates-freedom-waves-gaza-november-2011
When asked over the radio by the approaching Israeli warships what their destination was, Canadian Boat to Gaza organizer Ehab Lotayef reportedly said, “the conscience of humanity.” When the Israeli navy repeated the question, again asking for final destination, Lotayef was reported as saying the final destination of the Freedom Waves to Gaza was “the betterment of mankind.”
-30-
For more information or to arrange an interview:
English inquiries: Dylan Penner, Canadian Boat to Gaza, 613-859-6996
French inquiries: Denis Kosseim, Canadian Boat to Gaza, 514-923-5594
www.tahrir.ca <http://www.tahrir.ca/> , Twitter: @CanadaBoatGaza, #FreedomWaves, #Canada4Gaza
November 4, 2011
Contact lost with Freedom Waves to Gaza in Eastern Mediterranean
Canadian and Irish ships sailing with Freedom Waves to Gaza are likely being illegally boarded and commandeered right now by the Israeli military in international waters – or they are about to be. Freedom Waves to Gaza organizers have been unable to communicate with the ships since soon after the vessels were approached by Israeli warships.
The Freedom Waves to Gaza initiative is a non-violent, civil society movement to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
“We have lost contact with the Tahrir and the Saoirse and are hoping for the best, but we fear the worst, given what now appears to be a communications blackout,” says Canadian Boat to Gaza organizer Dylan Penner. "Several regularly scheduled check-ins haven’t happened, and we have been unable to reach those aboard. Given Israel’s stated intent to illegally board the ships, it seems likely that they are doing so.”
“It appears Israel has yet again illegally boarded peaceful boats sailing to Gaza through international waters. We’re deeply concerned for all our friends aboard given the Israeli government’s cavalier disregard for human life,” says Wendy Goldsmith, an organizer with the Canadian Boat to Gaza. “This is simply outrageous and will only further isolate Israel from the international community. We’re calling on people from coast to coast and around the world to take to the streets in emergency solidarity rallies. We call on the Canadian government to fulfill its obligations by protesting Israel’s illegal pirating of a Canadian ship in international waters, and to demand safety and immediate release of the delegates and property.”
Emergency protests are being planned for several cities across Canada. Information on these solidarity actions will be posted to www.tahrir.ca <http://www.tahrir.ca/> as it becomes available.
“The basic fact that we reached international waters is another victory for the movement. We are closer to Gaza this time, and hope to get even closer the next time, until we reach our destination,” said Canadian Boat to Gaza organizer David Heap from aboard the Tahrir before contact was lost. “Despite economic blackmail, despite the previous outsourcing of the blockade to Greece, and despite Israel mobilizing a significant portion of its navy to stop us, we are now even closer to reaching Gaza and breaking the blockade.”
Despite months of political, military, secret service, and bureaucratic interference, the Canadian Boat to Gaza and the Irish Boat to Gaza had managed to reach international waters. Bios of delegates on board the Tahrir are available here:
http://www.tahrir.ca/content/delegates-freedom-waves-gaza-november-2011
When asked over the radio by the approaching Israeli warships what their destination was, Canadian Boat to Gaza organizer Ehab Lotayef reportedly said, “the conscience of humanity.” When the Israeli navy repeated the question, again asking for final destination, Lotayef was reported as saying the final destination of the Freedom Waves to Gaza was “the betterment of mankind.”
-30-
For more information or to arrange an interview:
English inquiries: Dylan Penner, Canadian Boat to Gaza, 613-859-6996
French inquiries: Denis Kosseim, Canadian Boat to Gaza, 514-923-5594
www.tahrir.ca <http://www.tahrir.ca/> , Twitter: @CanadaBoatGaza, #FreedomWaves, #Canada4Gaza
Previous updates from Irish Boat to Gaza:
Contact lost with #FreedomWaves to Gaza in Eastern Mediterranean
Posted by Kev.
Irish
and Canadian ships sailing with Freedom Waves to Gaza are likely being
illegally boarded and commandeered right now by the Israeli military in
international waters – or they are about to be. Freedom Waves to Gaza
organizers have been unable to make contact with the MV Saoirse since
our last communication with the boat at 10.58.
At
11:12 am (Irish time) Israeli forces made radio contact with the Tahrir
and asked them to state their final destination. Canadian boat
organizer, Ehab Lotayef, responded: ‘The conscience of humanity’ and
when the Israeli forces repeated the question again, asking for the
boats’ final destination, he replied: ‘The betterment of humankind’.
“We
have lost contact with the Saoirse and Tahrir – there seems to be a
communications blackout,” said Laurence Davis, spokesperson for Irish
Ship to Gaza. “Up to now we had been in regular, scheduled check-in call
contact with the Saoirse. Given Israel’s stated intent to illegally
board the ships, it may be that this has already happened.”
“If
Israel has yet again illegally boarded peaceful boats sailing to Gaza
through international waters, then it means that this rogue state thinks
it can still act with impunity despite worldwide condemnation of its
attack on the Flotilla of 2010. We are deeply concerned for all
passengers and crew aboard the two boats, given Israel’s disregard for
human life on the 2010 Flotilla in which 9 activists were shot dead,”
says Claudia Saba, an organizer of Irish Ship to Gaza. “We’re calling on
people to take to the streets in emergency solidarity rallies.”
The
Freedom Waves to Gaza initiative is a non-violent, civil society
movement to challenge the unlawful Israeli blockade of Gaza. Despite
months of political, military, secret service, and bureaucratic
interference, the Irish Ship to Gaza and the Canadian Boat to Gaza had
managed to reach international waters. Bios of delegates on board the
Saoirse are available here: http://irishshiptogaza.org/?page_id=494
***
Israeli forces intercept Irish and Canadian boats
URGENT: At 10.58 am (Irish time) we received an urgent call from
Dr. Fintan Lane, National Coordinator of Irish Ship to Gaza aboard the
MV Saoirse, to say that two Israeli ships are rapidly approaching the Irish and Canadian boats. The MV Saoirse and Tahrir are 48 nautical miles (88km) from Gaza’s shores.
We have since received news (at 11:12 am Irish time) that Israeli forces have made radio contact with the
Tahrir and are requesting their final destination.
The situation is developing rapidly.
Irish Ship to Gaza calls on the Irish government to issue an urgent statement to the Israeli government warning against any harm to the passengers aboard the MV Saoirse.
Photos of the MV Saoirse before it left Turkey on Wednesday may be downloaded here:
ENDS
We have since received news (at 11:12 am Irish time) that Israeli forces have made radio contact with the
Tahrir and are requesting their final destination.
The situation is developing rapidly.
Irish Ship to Gaza calls on the Irish government to issue an urgent statement to the Israeli government warning against any harm to the passengers aboard the MV Saoirse.
Photos of the MV Saoirse before it left Turkey on Wednesday may be downloaded here:
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