June, 02 2010, 02:06pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Audrey Bomse, Lawyer
+00 357 96 48 98 05
Greta Berlin,
+00 357 99 18 72 75
Everyone Is NOT Released
Yesterday, the The UN Security Council called for impartial, credible
investigation of the Israeli attack on our boats. In addition, the
council requested the immediate release of the ships as well as the
civilians held by Israel. The media is reporting that all are being
released which is simply untrue.
CYPRUS
Yesterday, the The UN Security Council called for impartial, credible
investigation of the Israeli attack on our boats. In addition, the
council requested the immediate release of the ships as well as the
civilians held by Israel. The media is reporting that all are being
released which is simply untrue.
At least four Palestinian/Israelis, Free Gaza Movement board
director, Lubna Masarwa, Sheik Raed Salah, leader of the northern branch
of the Islamic
Movement in Israel, Mohammed Zeidan, Chairperson of the High
Fellowship Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel and Hamed abu Dabis are
facing multiple serious criminal offences for their participation in a
peaceful voyage to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.
After a full day in court represented by excellent attorneys from
Adalah, they were remanded until June 8, evidence of how seriously the
situation is for these four human rights workers.
This illegal incarceration is just another example of Israel's
draconian policies. First, they boarded our ships, traveling in
international waters and loaded with supplies to Gaza. They murdered at
least nine of our passengers, wounded dozens more, then hijacked our
boats and forced them into the port of Ashdod. They threw over 600
passengers into detention. None of these passengers had any intention of
going to Israel but were dragged into the country under force and then
deported.
Now they have thrown four well-known human rights, religious and
political leaders into prison for expressing support for their
beleagured brothers and sisters in Gaza.
Free Gaza is a human rights group founded in 2006. Our mission is to break the Israel's illegal siege on Gaza's 1.8 million civilians, since it inflicts collective punishment on the Palestinians who live there and has destroyed its economy. Free Gaza believes in direct action in confronting Israel's abuse of Palestinians using non-violent means and has found these voyages to be one of the most effective ways to alert the world to the prison-like conditions of Gaza. Ultimately, there is no better example of direct action than Free Gaza's sustained attempts to break the siege on Gaza which Israel claims it no longer occupies
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