Statements Archive LAST UPDATE  June 2, 2010
June 1, 2010

Statement Calling for an Immediate Lift of the Siege of Gaza and Protesting the Killing of Humanitarian Activists of the “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” by the Israeli Army
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Peace Boat protest outside the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo
We are outraged at yesterday’s attack by the Israeli Army on the flotilla aid ships in international waters off the coast of the Gaza Strip that has resulted in the murder of an as yet unknown number of humanitarian activists and serious injury to dozens of others who were attempting to supply humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of Israel’s blockade. We condemn these inhumane actions by the Israeli Army in the strongest terms.

The siege of the Gaza, where an unjust and inhumane military blockade has been imposed since 2007, has made a prison of the Gaza Strip, and collectively punishes civilians. Those living in Gaza, including infants, children, elderly, disabled, and the ill, are barely surviving under deplorable living conditions.

The actions of the Israeli army, in attacking a convoy to prevent the delivery of international humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, and murdering the activists, are inadmissible.

We strongly urge the Israeli government to immediately release the ships and all passengers on board the flotilla, including Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Mairead Maguire. We also urge Israel to authorize the entry of aid ships into the Gaza Strip without further delay.

We demand that the blockade on Gaza by Israel be lifted, and that the rule of international law be respected, allowing the entry of humanitarian aid, and guaranteeing the security and rights of the people of Gaza. The current situation in Gaza cannot be permitted under international law, and as an international society in the 21st century, we must not allow such actions and such a situation to continue.

We call on all governments, beginning with the United States, who has continued to aid the military in Israel and the Japanese government who have supported the policies of Israel’s government, to take urgent action towards ending the occupation of Palestine, and to form a definitive plan with the United Nations towards a peaceful resolution. We call on international society to work in solidarity towards a peaceful and permanent resolution for Palestine.

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