[HCCN] FW: 11/6/11 - Important Update on Boats to Gaza

Sun Nov 6 17:56:21 UTC 2011

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From: "U.S. BOAT TO GAZA" <ustogaza at gmail.com>
Reply-To: <ustogaza at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 12:22:42 -0500 (EST)
To: <judy at robbinsandrobbins.com>
Subject: 11/6/11 - Important Update on Boats to Gaza

Latest update on the Freedom Waves to Gaza Boats November 6, 2011  The take
over of the Tahrir and the Saoirse was violent and dangerous. Despite very
clear protests from the occupants of the two boats that they did not want to
be taken to Israel, they were forcibly removed from the boats in a violent
manner. The whole take over took about 3 hours. Many of those on the
Canadian boat were beaten.  It began with Israeli forces hosing down the
boats with high pressure hoses and pointing guns at the passengers through
the windows. Fintan Lane, on the Saoirse, was hosed down the stairs of the
boat. Windows where smashed and the bridge of that boat nearly caught fire.
The boats were corralled to such an extent that the two boats, the Saoirse
and the Tahrir collided with each and were damaged, with most of the damage
happening to the MV Saoirse.  The boats nearly sunk, the method used in the
take over was very dangerous.  The Israeli forces initially wanted to leave
the boats at sea but the abductees demanded that they not be left to float
unmanned at sea, for they would have been lost and possibly sunk. David
Heap, a Canadian delegate, was tasered and beaten.  All belongings of the
passengers were taken off them and crew and they still do not know if and
what they will get back.  6 prisoners were released-both of the Greek
Captains, 2 of the journalists and 2 delegates. The passengers remain in
Givon detention center and many, including Kit Kittredge of the U.S., have
not been able to make phone calls.  Those remaining are being asked to sign
deportation papers which state that they came into Israel illegally and that
they will not attempt another effort to break the Gaza blockade. If they
sign they will not be allowed into Palestine, through Israel, for 10 years.
Obviously their goal was to go to Gaza not Israel, and a signature could
validate Israel's right to blockade Gaza, so they refuse to sign.  This will
mean longer detention. Their continued detention is designed to force them
to agree to abandon their legal rights and has nothing to do with the
security of Israeli civilians - just like the blockade of Gaza's civilians
is clearly punitive and has nothing to do with the security of Israeli
civilians  Our State Department has not been an advocate for its citizens.
They would rather join Israel in stating that we are terrorists. Obama on
Thursday said the passengers on these boats are defying Israeli and American
law. He must have been confused. It's the other way around.   State
Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the U.S. was renewing its call
to Americans "not to involve themselves in this activity," and warned of
possible consequences.  WE NEED ALL OF YOU TO GET ON THE PHONE TODAY AND
CALL:  U.S. Emergency Consular Services  202-647-4000
and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv  011-972-3-519-7575  Tell them you want
them to insist Israel free the prisoners immediately and end its siege of
Gaza.   Just a few phone calls can make a difference.   Thanks for all you
do.  Jane Hirschmann and Felice Gelman

---------------------  Please distribute this press release:

For Immediate Release: November 6, 2011 Contact: Felice Gelman 917-912-2597
Passengers on boats to Gaza beaten, denied visits by lawyers and access to
families; misled by U.S. consular authorities  Although Freedom Waves to
Gaza organizers have not yet had direct communication with the people taken
into custody by Israeli armed forces as they tried to peacefully sail to
Gaza last week, information is emerging that Israeli armed forces tactics in
confronting the non-violent activists have been violent and dangerous.  This
despite claims from the IDF spokesperson that "every precaution will be
taken for the safety of the activists."  Prisoners include U.S. citizen Kit
Kittredge, a delegate on the Tahrir from Quilcene, WA, and Jihan Hafiz, a
U.S. citizen and journalist from Democracy Now, the national news program.
Both have been advised by the U.S. consul in Israel to sign an Israeli
deportation agreement.  Both have refused because the statement says they
came into Israel illegally and will not attempt another effort to break the
Gaza blockade. Both statements are untrue.  A letter from Canadian David
Heap, smuggled from the Givon prison, states that he was tasered and beaten
when the Israeli Navy attacked the Tahrir.  Irish prisoner, Fintan Lane, in
a telephone call from Givon prison, reported that the takeover of the
Saoirse was also violent.  The Tahrir and the Saoirse were forced by Israeli
warships to crash into each other, crippling both ships.  Palestinian
Israeli Mad Kayal, a delegate aboard the Tahrir, who was arrested and
released confirms these reports. "As a Palestinian, I was not surprised at
how the IDF treated us," said Kayal, after his release, noting this kind of
abuse is a daily reality for the 1.5 million people of Gaza, who are
indefinitely detained in an open-air prison. "However, for the Canadians and
other Westerners onboard, it was a complete shock."  "Israeli brutality and
the unnecessary use of force against non-violent protests are well
documented. What has happened to the passengers on the Tahrir and the
Saoirse is just a tiny fraction of the daily abuse directed at Palestinians
in Gaza and the West Bank as part of Israel's occupation policy," said U.S.
coordinator Jane Hirschmann.  "Nonetheless, all people - Palestinians under
occupation and peace activists kidnapped and imprisoned - have human rights
under international law that civilized governments must respect.  The
purpose of the boats' voyage to Gaza was to demonstrate that Israel
continually violates those laws, and that the U.S. government cares more
about Israel than about its own citizens."  ###

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