Contact:
In New York: Felice Gelman, (917)-912-2597
Jane Hirschman, 917-679-8343 , 212-222-6721
In Turkey (with ground crew): Medea Benjamin, +90 531 888 8927
@palwaves and @usboattogaza



New York, NY 11/4/11 - Canadian and Irish ships, the Tahrir and the Saoirse, sailing with Freedom Waves to Gaza have been illegally boarded by the Israeli military in international waters, about 50 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza, around 9:30 am EDT. The IDF spokesperson confirmed that the vessels were taken to the port of Ashdod, and the passengers were taken into custody by the Israeli police. Although the IDF spokesperson claimed they took "every precaution to ensure the safety of the activists," Freedom Waves to Gaza organizers have been unable to communicate with the ships since soon after the vessels were approached by Israeli warships earlier this morning.

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 IDF's statement is like the mugger promising to escort his victim home safely."

The Canadian boat Tahrir confirmed that the Israeli navy had contacted them asking for their destination at around 7 a.m. EDT to which Ehab Lotayef, an activist on board the ship, replied 'The conscience of humanity'. When the Israelis again demanded to know the destination of the ship Lotayef replied; 'The betterment of mankind'.

Ann Wright, one of the organizers of the Freedom Flotilla that attempted to sail to Gaza in June, said "It's a little hard to imagine how 27 unarmed civilians on two small boats carrying medicine and letters threaten Israel's security. Israel is simply determined to maintain its policy of collective punishment against the 1.6 million civilians in Gaza. This is a crime against humanity and violation of international law. Despite Israel's consistent use of military force against nonviolent protests and demonstrations, activists around the world will continue to challenge the occupation of Palestine and the blockade and Gaza."

Passengers on the boats are citizens of Canada, Ireland, the US, Australia, and Palestine. The US citizen on the Tahrir is Kit Kittredge of Quilcene, Washington. She is a massage therapist and emergency medical technician.

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could n't get your Massage today?

My Masseuse is on board the Tahrir

there is an united nations sanctioned navel blocked imposed to stop the illegal shipping of arms to the area and to terrorist groups such as hamas

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"Your attempt to enter the Gaza Strip by sea is a violation of international law. We remind you that humanitarian supplies can be delivered to the Gaza Strip by land, and you are welcome to enter Ashdod port and deliver supplies through land crossings."

When asked what the boats were carrying, an activist replies "we have no cargo."

A statement from the activists later said the boats were carrying medicine and supplies for Gaza........

"The naval blockade has been recognized as legal and legitimate by the United Nations," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. "It's necessity has been stressed recently by the intensified rocket attacks from Gaza......

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/israel-flotilla-gaza_n_1075660.html?ref=world

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saying illegally boarded is incorrect when they are trying to run a legal blockade

yall keep saying "illegal", but Israel has made it clear for years that every ship will be boarded when it enters the waters... they chose to ignore that warning and got boarded... so again, how is it illegal?

New York, NY 11/4/11 - Canadian and Irish ships, the Tahrir and the Saoirse, sailing with Freedom Waves to Gaza have been illegally boarded by the Israeli military in international waters, about 50 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza, around 9:30 am EDT.

???... i read that the first time... still doesn't explain how it is illegal

Read it again

ok, done... now how is it illegal? i take it you know nothing of the Israeli blockade there...

During the Israeli soldiersraid on the ship, activists on board raised signs saying “boarding an unarmed ship in international waters is anact of piracy”.
In a brief statement published on Twitter after the ships was forced to change direction from Gaza to Ashdod, the organisers ofthe campaign to break the blockade said Israeli should be held accountable for violating international law and the“basic principles of human rights”
“The Canadian govt should be demanding protection of Canadian ship and citizens, not defending criminal Israelipolicy,” the statement added.
Activists on board the ships tweeted reports that the Israel navy would hand over passengers to local policeand immigration authorities for interrogation when they arrived at the Israeli port.
Before raiding the ships, the Israeli navy made radio contact and asked about their destination and called on them to stop or return to where they began.
Asked over the radio by the approaching Israeli vessels what their destination was, Ehab Lotayef, organiser of the Canadian mission reportedly said, “the conscience of humanity.”
When the question was repeated, Lotayef was reported to have replied that the final destination of the latest flotilla -- dubbed Freedom Waves to Gaza -- was “the betterment of mankind.”
Despite months of political, military and alleged secret service interference, the Canadian and Irish boats had managed to leave Turkey and reach international waters.
Organisers of Freedom Waves to Gaza said they had organised in secret, in a bid to prevent Israeli interference.
The two vassals left port in southern Turkey on Wednesday and were expected to reach Gaza by Friday morning, organisers said.
Following the Israeli interception they are expected to stay in Ashdod for a day or two and then return to Turkey.
Between them the two boats are carrying 27 passengers and some US$30,000 worth of medical aid, as well as journalists and crew members, organisers said.
Among the passengers is an Egyptian journalist, Lina Attallah, managing editor at Al Masry Al YoumEnglish.
Activists organised a major attempt to break Israel's blockade in May 2010, when six ships led by the Turkish Mavi Marmara tried to reach Gaza.
Israeli commandos stormed the flotilla some 80 nautical miles off Gaza, in a raid which left nine Turkish activists dead and sparked a diplomatic crisis with Ankara, which recently expelled the Israeli ambassador and cut military ties with Tel Aviv.
Earlier this year, a secondflotilla tried to reach Gaza, but several ships were sabotaged, which activists blamed on Israel.Only one ship, the Dignity, attempted the final leg before it was intercepted by the Israeli navy.

You and I disagree so lets agree to disagree and leave it there shall we.

this has been happening for years now...i'm suprised you just now noticed this... Israel has every right to protect their people and boarders...if they really wanted to help gaza, then they would do it the way Israel wants it done, through the proper channels. personally, i wish Israel would start sinking all of these idiots ships, just so they would learn to use the proper channels...

i guess my post was invisible

hhhhmmmmmmmm

united nations sanctions the blockaid

EXCLUSIVE: Video Report From Gaza-Bound Flotilla Attempting to Break Israeli Blockade

http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=Of3kK63o2Fo

Even though I answered what looks like an angel I worry if I talk to a flag..

note which flag

that does make a big difference

its the true flag of freedom before the govt started taking away the rights of the people

It's the people behind the Government who take away your freedom...the backroom boys...or to Quote JeannieBean "The Brotherhood of The Snake" Is it OK to Quote you JB

Good for Israel, we should use this practice on our southern border.

You haven't heard of The North American Union then