Blockade-busters sail from Gaza, with 7 Palestinians

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Last update - 04:47 29/08/2008

Blockade-busters sail from Gaza, with 7 Palestinians

By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press

Two boats run by the pro-Palestinian Free Gaza group sailed back to Cyprus from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, carrying seven Palestinians, including five children.

One of them is a 10-year-old boy who lost a leg to an Israeli tank shell. The boy, accompanied by his father, hopes to be fitted with an artificial leg abroad.

Initially, the group had also planned to take 12 Palestinian students who have been accepted to foreign universities but barred from leaving Gaza by Israel. However, that plan was dropped when it turned out that the students had no visas for the countries in which they sought to study.

The group's goal in organizing the voyages was to break the Israeli siege of Gaza, and a few of the activists decided to stay in Gaza to organize local support for additional such trips.

Those who sailed - most of the several dozen activists - said the boats left Gaza's territorial waters with no interference from the Israel Navy.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1016318.html

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

The SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty left port in Gaza at 3:40 PM, and have begun their long voyage back to Cyprus. Aboard the ship are seven Palestinian passengers, including several children. We were able to speak with Paul Larudee on the SS Liberty just a few minutes ago:

"We're a little over an hour into our return trip to Cyprus and, unlike when we came in, there are several Israeli naval vessels in sight. We seem to be the focus of their activity, the center of their attention so to speak. However they're keeping a careful distance, not really approaching us. We expect to reach the twelve-mile limit around 7 PM this evening, and then cross over into international waters.

"When we arrived in Gaza last Saturday, it was the first time in forty-one years that anyone has freely entered Gaza. But our leaving is in a way even more significant. Last Saturday, two of our Palestinian members came into Gaza on these boats. Today, seven more Palestinians are leaving with them. They got exit stamps from the Palestinian government, they boarded the ships, and soon they'll be in international waters, and then in Cyprus. This is the first time, ever, that Palestinians have been able to freely enter and leave their own country. It's an incredible step forward, and a sign of greater things to come."

--Paul Larudee, aboard the SS Liberty, freely leaving Gaza.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Israeli who sailed to Gaza released

Prof Jeff Halper, the only Israeli on board two ships that attempted to break an Israeli naval blockade on Gaza last week, was released after being detained Tuesday by police

Shmulik Hadad Published: 08.27.08, 19:16 / Israel News

Professor Jeff Halper, the only Israeli citizen to participate in a sea-borne attempt to sail into Gaza on Saturday, was released on Wednesday after being detained by police on Tuesday.

Minnesota-born Halper, an Anthropology lecturer from Ben Gurion University who also chairs the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, was among dozens of international activists who sailed from Cyprus over the weekend in an attempt to break an Israeli naval blockade of the coastal enclave.

Halper was arrested after he passed through the Erez crossing back into Israel, since he had violated a military order prohibiting Jewish civilians from entering Gaza that was legislated pursuant to the Disengagement in 2005. Police originally thought to release Halper conditionally following preliminary questioning, but apparently decided to keep him in lock-up overnight.

Professor Jeff Halper (Photo: Tsafrir Abayov)

There were two potential charges considered against Halper: As stated, his presence in Gaza violates a military order that delineates the region as a military-only zone. Additionally, he was considered a public hazard, since his presence in Gaza would have made him a prime target for kidnapping, which could have had massive negative repercussions on the state and its citizens.

Police met Wednesday morning with Halper's lawyers, as well as with representatives from the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry, to discuss his status. Despite wanting to file an indictment against Halper, the discussions, and in particular a consultation with the Attorney-General's Office, motivated police to release him conditionally.

Halper is forbidden from nearing Gaza for the next 30 days and the court ordered him to pay collateral to ensure his compliance.

During this meeting, one of the professor's lawyer, Yaron Gat, said that Halper had not met with any individuals hostile to Israel, nor had he cooperated with terrorists, but rather merely wanted to promote human rights in by bringing humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

"We are pleased that the attorney general and other government entities understood that this was a purely civil action that, while illegal, was only meant to promote human rights, and that they decided accordingly," Gat said.

Halper said that he pleased about his release. He referred to his illegal action as part of a "historic moment, because we succeeded in breaching psychological barriers and this shows that it's possible to make a connection between the two peoples without the interference of governments and shows that there is a partner on the other side."

"Israel implements a policy of holding the rope at both ends. Allegedly, the state isn't occupying Gaza but it is in charge of the entrances into Gaza, such that it is actually operating in Gaza," he added.

According to information relayed during the meeting, the 'Free Gaza' organization that coordinated last weekend's sail intends to send two more ships from Cyprus to Gaza soon, carrying food.

The head of the Sderot Police Station said that, despite the Attorney-General's advisory opinion, it intends to file an indictment against Halper for his actions.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3588670,00.html

[GiGii 4]

I'm with Palestine. I dont understand how the US & other countries jump in to "save" say Iraq, but let the Palestinians suffer at the Isreali's expense. How did they gain so much respect/support, for just coming and settling into someone else's country, just don't get it.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

FREE GAZA & LIBERTY ARRIVE IN CYPRUS WITH PALESTINIANS ON-BOARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date : 08-29-08

FREE GAZA MOVEMENT announces the arrival at 20:30 (10:30am PDT), Friday 29 August, 2008 of the FREE GAZA and LIBERTY vessels, in Larnaca Harbour, returning from Gaza, and a successful end to this first of such missions.

The historic return voyage represents the first time since 1967 that Palestinians have been able freely to enter and leave their country. The Free Gaza Movement will mark this historic moment with a reception at Larnaca Harbour , as will Palestinians in Gaza , as both boats return safely from Gazan and international waters after a calm and uneventful crossing.

Organiser Paul Larudee: “This endeavour has been a huge success, far more significant and wide-reaching than anyone ever dreamt it could be. It has had obvious beneficial effects on the Palestinian people, but also on Israel . In fairness, credit must go where credit is due -- despite threats or obstacles, a responsible decision was made by Israeli authorities not to interfere with our mission and this is a model for the future."

As reported by the world press, news has travelled worldwide of the Free Gaza Movement. Supportive messages have come in, including from UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the OPT, Richard Falk, who wrote:

“The landing of two wooden boats carrying 46 human rights activists in Gaza is an important symbolic victory. This non-violent initiative of the Free Gaza Movement focused attention around the world on the stark reality that the 1.5 million residents of Gaza have endured a punitive siege for more than a year. This siege is a form of collective punishment that constitutes a massive violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The siege, the coastal blockade, and overflights by Israeli aircraft all bear witness to the fact that despite Israel’s claimed ‘disengagement’ in 2005, these realities on the ground establish that Gaza remains under Israeli occupation, and as a result Israel remains legally responsible for protecting the human rights of its civilian population. By severely restricting the entry of food, fuel, and medicine the economic and social rights of the people of Gaza have been systematically violated. There is widespread deafness among the people of Gaza that is blamed on the frequent sonic booms produced by over-flying Israeli military aircraft. For this reason the peace boats brought 200 hearing aids to Gaza.”

Mr. Falk strongly urged the international community to take action to uphold human rights in the Gaza Strip.

“Above all, what is being tested is whether the imaginative engagement of dedicated private citizens can influence the struggle of a beleaguered people for basic human rights, and whether their courage and commitment can awaken the conscience of humanity to an unfolding tragedy.”

Or, in the words of Palestinian voyager, Musheir El-Farra, originally born and raised in Khan Younis in Gaza but currently living in Sheffield , UK :

“For the first time in my life, I went to Gaza without being humiliated, without having to ask Israel for permission. We did it. We finally did it. And now others must join us and do it as well.”

http://www.freegaza.org/index.php?module=l...173&offset=