UN experts demand safe passage for Freedom Flotilla’s humanitarian mission to Gaza

Ready to sail for Gaza with aid, but Israel is putting up new barriers.

"South African politician Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla taking aid to Gaza, announcing that 'I am a living example of what international solidarity can achieve, we defeated the apartheid government.' Mandela said Israel's planned blockade of the aid ship would be a breach of international law, and that the flotilla activists were determined to break Israel's blockade and siege of Gaza." https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240424-south-african-solidarity-mandelas-grandson-joins-gaza-aid-flotilla/

A flotilla of three ships, carrying some 5,000 tonnes of food, drinking water & medical aid, is about to depart from Turkey |

@GazaFFlotilla

UN experts demand safe passage for Freedom Flotilla’s humanitarian mission to Gaza

Featured, News / By David

GENEVA (26 April 2024) – UN experts today demanded safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, whose ships departing Türkiye will be carrying 5,500 tonnes of humanitarian aid and hundreds of international humanitarian observers to the besieged Gaza Strip. “As the Freedom Flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, Israel must adhere to international law, including recent orders from the International Court of Justice to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid,” the experts said.

They issued the following statement:

“Two hundred days into Israel’s siege and genocidal violence, including an unprecedented starvation campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the situation continues to deteriorate. After a 17-year blockade against Gaza, Israel has now created a famine by cutting off the regular supply of water, food and critical goods into Gaza, destroying livelihoods, the food system and civilian infrastructure. Failing to comply with its humanitarian obligations as the occupying power, Israel is also restricting humanitarian aid, intentionally bombarding humanitarian convoys, and targeting both aid workers and civilians seeking aid.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a civilian peaceful initiative whose ships departing Türkiye will be carrying 5,500 tons of humanitarian aid and hundreds of international humanitarian observers to the besieged Gaza Strip. Comprising a diverse coalition of human rights activists, including lawyers, doctors, nurses, journalists, parliamentarians and politicians, the convoy aims to deliver life-saving aid directly to the besieged people of Gaza, legitimately challenging Israel’s control over the entry of humanitarian assistance. Besieging a civilian population is unlawful.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s demands include an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and an end to the illegal blockade of the Gaza strip. The convoy is scheduled for imminent departure.

The Flotilla is a material manifestation of international support for the ongoing Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination, and the internationally recognised right to receive humanitarian aid without interference or hindrance. Support for the Palestinian people’s human rights is acute under the current conditions of genocide, domicide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. We are witnessing purposefully induced famine amid the wholesale destruction of homes and hospitals. Disease is quickly spreading because millions of people were forced out of their homes, targeted, maimed or wounded, and left unable to be treated in highly unsanitary conditions, and are now living in makeshift and overcrowded shelters. The level of trauma and distress will impact Palestinians for generations.

Countries are not complying with their obligations to end Israel’s genocide and starvation in Gaza. In fact, many countries continue supporting Israel with weapons, funds and political support: this may make them complicit in Israel’s genocide and starvation. This is why civilians, like the Freedom Flotilla participants, are increasingly showing their solidarity by protecting and fulfilling Palestinian human rights through direct action. They express the will of a global movement, especially sustained by youth worldwide, to bring the horrors in Gaza to an end – in the interest of both Palestinians and Israelis.

The Freedom Flotilla has the right of free passage in international waters and Israel must not interfere with its freedom of navigation, long recognised under international law. As the Freedom Flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, it is essential for Israel to adhere to international law, including recent orders from the International Court of Justice to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.

In 2010, Israel intercepted and attacked the Freedom Flotilla’s civilian ships in international waters, killing 10 passengers and wounding many others. At the time, the Freedom Flotilla had attempted to break the Israeli blockade by delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

We are especially concerned for the safety of the participants of the Freedom Flotilla in light of Israel’s repeated targeted attacks against UN and civilian humanitarian missions. Israel should remember that the world is closely watching and refrain from any hostility against the participants of the flotilla.”

*The experts: The experts: Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967; and Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing.

https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2024/04/un-experts-demand-safe-passage-freedom-flotillas-humanitarian-mission-gaza

Breaking News:

US Rabbis and US Journalist Delivering Aid were Arrested by Israel

By Voices Against the War

April 26, 2024

Seven protesters have now been arrested in a demonstration at the Erez crossing, the border between Gaza and Israel, among them American citizens: many Alisa Wiese, many Elana Alpert and Ilana Smoukha (rabbinical student), a journalist and 3 Israeli protesters. A delegation of dozens of rabbis from the USA and Israel is demonstrating at the Erez crossing at this time demanding a ceasefire, an end to the siege and starvation of Gaza, and an immediate deal to release all the abductees: "Passover is a reminder of our moral and Jewish responsibility to work for freedom for every person, for solidarity and resistance to the reality of suffering and oppression." The rabbis arrived with a shipment of food intended for the residents of the Gaza Strip: "The Israeli government is using hunger in Gaza as a weapon against the 2.3 million Gazans, preventing essential humanitarian aid, and creating a reality of malnutrition and disease." The demonstration is being held at the initiative of "Rabbis for Ceasefire" - an ad hoc organization of rabbis and rabbinic students from Conservative, Reform and Orthodox communities in the USA, who are working to call for an immediate cease fire, and in collaboration with the Rabbinic Voice for Human Rights (formerly: Rabbis for Human Rights) , JVP (the Jewish Center for Nonviolence), Zochrot Association, Free Jerusalem, If Not Now and JFREJ. Among the participants in the demonstration was the CEO of Rabani Voice for Human Rights, Avi Dabush, a resident of the south, who said: "Our commitment to justice and human rights does not stop at the border. There is no justification for the starvation of two million Gazans. This is our moral and Jewish voice, fighting for the rights of all those who were created in Tselem. We are committed to the commandment "you cannot ignore". We will not ignore what happened to us on October 7th. Many Elena Alpert of "Revival" - a community of renewing Judaism in Detroit, USA, read "When we celebrate the time of our freedom, we must remember what is written in the Haggadah: "Every living thing - shall eat and eat". But the abductees and the Palestinian residents of Gaza, the women, the elderly, the children, suffer from chronic hunger, disease and lack of access to clean water and medical care. How can we celebrate our freedom when this cruelty is done in the name of the Jews?" Rabbi Brian Walt, founder of Rabbis for Human Rights in North America, said, "As we must remember our departure from slavery to freedom, we have come today to distribute food to the hungry and to call together with our Israeli friends for an immediate cease-fire and the release of all abductees and captives. We call for justice and equality for all people in this land." Rabbi Andy Kahn, a significant reform rabbi and editor in New York, said, "We must see in our quest for freedom from slavery a sacred commandment to work for justice for the disadvantaged people today. We must demand humanitarian aid for the abductees and the residents of Gaza, to free all Israeli and Palestinian captives."