On May 31 2010 Israeli forces raided six boats in international waters that were carrying aid for the people of Gaza. While the majority of boats were raided without much injury to the activists on board there were still nearly a dozen deaths and dozens of injured people. There were nearly 700 activists on board those ships that day all trying to help the people of Gaza by delivering them aid consisting of food, medicine and construction materials. On those ships were activists ranging from Turkish to Australian to U.S. activists. There were over a dozen United States citizens that Israel took into custody. Israel is becoming so bold that they do not even care about one of their number one allies or their citizens. Israel even took into custody a former U.S. ambassador...however he was immediately deported back to the United States.
The boats did deny Israel's request to dock at Ashdod, a port city in Israel but rightfully so. The activists wanted to ensure that ALL the aid on board reached the citizens of Gaza. They knew that if it was docked at Ashdod the Israelis would deem the items on board as "inappropriate". In the end that is what happened. The Israelis searched the boats and seized construction material that is vital towards the reconstruction effort in Gaza after last year's Israeli Offensive on Gaza where over 1,300 people were killed. Israel has once again breached numerous laws by blockading aid to civilians.
While I understand and actually support Israel's need to defend themselves as the only Jewish state surrounded by nearly two dozen Muslim/Arab States...I get that--I really do. However, this is an atrocity of epic proportions that the international community has not done more to stop Israel from senselessly denying the passage of ALL aid to Gaza. Construction materials are not a threat to Israel's security. The international community must recognize that by denying construction materials to pass through to Gaza it is essentially denying Gazans the right to live...this is a crime within itself. All the UN did was condemn the acts of killing innocent civilians. They have yet to outright condemn the denial of aid to Gaza.
Furthermore, this is not the first time that Gazans have been denied aid. The blockade on Gaza has existed since 2007 where Israel has continuously denied aid to Gaza and has imposed economic sanctions on them as well. Just because Hamas is not recognized by the International Community as a legitimate form of government it does not mean that the innocent civilians within that territory have to suffer. They are human beings just like Israelis just like Americans. Israel has complete control over Gaza's naval and air space. Therefore, everything that enters the region is allowed to be inspected by Israel where they unlawfully seize items such as construction material. Since when is construction material to rebuild homes considered warfare material? And even if warfare material were to pass through to the Gazans, do they not have the right to defend themselves as well? Why are the Pro-Gaza/Pro-Palestinian activists and defenders of the rights for Palestinians deemed as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers??
The inhumane actions taken by Israel is deplorable. How can the international community continue to sit back and watch as Israel continues to grow economically as Gazans are living in sub-standard conditions with the unemployment and lack of food security. This makes them fall victim to dependency on foreign aid--aid that never reaches them. Gaza Gaza don't you cry!! Palestine will never die. One day Gaza will rise up and become the homeland that Palestinians deserve.
2 comments:
the flotilla raid really helped expose the gaza siege and brought another peak of international condemnation of Israel's policies. its crazy they think the construction materials brought on was of any danger. The "weapons" they claimed to be on the ship were of the normal variety of objects you would find on a ship.
i believe to look at any problem we must look at the root of it. Israel occupies people with the intention to expel all of them (by making their lives extremely difficult or outright cleansing them) or having them on the least land possible in the least humane way. Gaza is Palestinian mandated land yet they still control the air and sea. There is a fundamental issue here: Israel and her hypocrisy of a democracy and outright lies/propaganda with MAJOR help of the US gov't gets away with murder. Playing on muslim stereotypes all built on this conflict is a way to do it too.
We need more brave activists and nations to follow the flotilla's lead to expose Israel and their occupation. Hopefully this inspires people! Resist!
Amir, you are exactly right! What is Israel is doing to the people in Gaza should be viewed as down and out war crimes. Plain and simple. By putting economic sanctions and massive regulations on aid to Gazans, Israel is displaying actions equivalent to crimes against humanity.
I really hope the international community really opens up their eyes to the walking contradiction that Israel is. While I am not denying that horrible atrocity was committed against Jewish people back in World War II with the holocaust, I am also saying it is time for Israel to make the world stop paying for what happened decades ago.
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