Press release - July 2, 2011
The Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR) strongly condemns all attempts to sabotage the international “Freedom Flotilla II” efforts to depart from Athens, Greece, and reach the Gaza Strip safely.
‘Freedom Flotilla II’ comes in the wake of the previous illegal intervention by Israeli commandos on the Mavi Marimar on May 31, 2010, that resulted in the death of 9 human rights activists in international waters.
The sabotage of two vessels’ propellers in Turkey and Greece – 1 Irish and 1 Norwegian/Swedish vessel – was identical and suspected to have originated from the same source. The sabotage this past week has not deterred the ‘Freedom Flotilla II’ from leaving Greece.
The “Freedom Flotilla II” consists of international activists (writers, politicians, artists, journalists – from CNN, NBC, Al-Jazeera, and more – despite Israel’s threat to ban any journalists from entering Israel if they participated in the flotilla).
The “Freedom Flotilla II” is a non-belligerent, peace-oriented human expression of solidarity with the 1.5 Gazans that are literally cut off the outside world. Flotilla II aims to contest Israel’s illegal control of Palestinian waters and land on the Gazan coast.
Israel’s control of Palestinian waters is illegal by international legal standards of the 4th Geneva Convention of an occupying power; and inconsistent with the 1993 Oslo Accords that Israel signed with the Palestinian Authority.
The CEPR encourages Greek and European authorities to assist the ‘Freedom Flotilla II’ in departing from Europe and to accompany the vessels to reach Gaza safely without being subject to Israeli violations of international waters again and potential unnecessary casualties.
Brussels/London – July 2, 2011
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
Stuart Reigeluth
Communications Officer
+32 (0)2 503 5402
+32 (0)485 432 425
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Ayman Abuawwad
Information Officer
+44 (0)20 7668 8052
+44 (0)753 983 9257
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