Israel Says It Will Prevent "freedom Flotilla 2" From Reaching Gaza By Kevin Murphy - IMEMC
Israel has confirmed it will block the next “Freedom Flotilla” seeking to break the maritime siege of Gaza. The flotilla is due to sail in June.
The Israeli Navy has said it has learnt lessons from last year’s freedom flotilla incident in which 9 civilians were killed when Israeli commandos forcibly boarded the flotilla’s ships. It says it will focus on riot prevention measures for the planned “Freedom Flotilla 2” which sets out in June and use force only as a last resort.
According to JPost members of the Israeli police and prison service who are trained in quelling civilian riots will undertake the mission to stop the aid flotilla along with Navy Flotilla 13 commandos.
This year’s flotilla is due to be twice the size of last years. Its message this year is “Stay Human” in honour of Italian peace activist Attorio Arrigoni who was killed in Gaza this year.
Both UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and the Canadian Prime Minister have urged organisers to cancel the flotilla in fear of a repeat of last year’s killings.
Pro Israel Canadian Prime Minister John Baird has urged the Canadian section of the flotilla “Canadian Boat to Gaza” to withdraw from the flotilla saying that “unauthorized efforts to deliver aid are provocative and, ultimately, unhelpful to the people of Gaza”. The Canadian organisers of the flotilla have dismissed the advice.
Ban Ki Moon called on Middle Eastern countries to prevent the planned flotilla.
The flotilla is seeking to break a siege imposed by Israel on the Palestinian Territory of Gaza. No ships may enter within 20 km of Gaza without Israeli permission according to Israeli guidelines.
Last year’s freedom flotilla were well outside these boundaries, however, when Israeli commandos boarded and redeployed the ships to the Israeli port of Eratz.
A United States State Department spokesperson said Wednesday that the US has raised its concerns with the Turkish government regarding any flotilla sailing towards the Gaza Strip.According to the US, any flotilla would be considered an “act of provocation” since there is already an effective protocol to transfer humanitarian aid into Gaza.
State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner raised the issue during a daily press briefing in Washington, saying that in recent conversations with the Turkish government the US warned against organizations planning to break the Israeli blockage over Gaza.
"We have made clear through the past year that groups and individuals who seek to break Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza are taking irresponsible and provocative actions that entail a risk to their safety. I think I’ve talked about this specifically."
Toner reiterated that "there are established and efficient mechanisms for getting humanitarian assistance through to Gaza, and that’s been our message consistently".
In regards to the question of whether or not Israeli forces plan to intervene in international waters to stop the flotilla Toner remarked: "I’d have to refer you to the Israeli Government as to what their actions may be if people attempt to break the blockade. Our message has been consistent… that flotilla actions are indeed provocative, and we don’t want to see anybody harmed."
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon called on governments last Friday to discourage pro-Palestinian activists from sending a new aid flotilla to Gaza a year after Israeli commandos martyred nine people aboard a previous convoy.
In letters to Mediterranean governments, Ban said all aid for Gaza, which is blockaded by Israeli occupation forces, should go through "legitimate crossings and established channels" – which in practice in recent years has meant through Israel.
But he also called on Israel to "act responsibly" to avoid ‘violence’.
- Undefeated, Freedom Flotillas Expand
- Canadians to Baird: "Israel's Gaza Blockade Is Illegal. We Will Sail to Gaza"
- UN Secretary-General trying to scupper flotilla plans
- Youths to protest Ki-moon flotilla statement in Ramallah
Uprooted Palestinian
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