This Friday, UN rapporteurs called for the safe passage of the Freedom Flotilla, which intends to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, and called on Israel to respect international law by allowing it to dock in the Palestinian enclave.
The Freedom Flotilla has the right of free passage in international waters, and Israel must not interfere with its freedom of navigation, long recognized by international law. As the Freedom Flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off the Gaza Strip, it is critical that Israel respects international law, including recent rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to guarantee unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance,” they said in a statement.
Experts say they are “particularly concerned about the safety of participants” given Israel’s “repeated attacks on UN humanitarian missions and civilians.”
Israel, they stress, “must remember that the world is watching closely and refrain from any hostile actions against members of the flotilla,” recalling that the Israeli army killed ten people during the 2010 attack on the Mavi Marmara, which was sailing to Gaza as part of a similar initiative.
The Freedom Flotilla coalition is a peaceful civilian initiative whose ships, which will depart from Turkey, will transport 5,550 tons of humanitarian aid and hundreds of international humanitarian observers, including “human rights defenders, including lawyers, doctors, nurses,” to the besieged Gaza Strip. , journalists, deputies and politicians.”
The goal is to “deliver life-saving aid directly to people besieged in the Gaza Strip, legitimately challenging Israeli controls on the flow of humanitarian aid,” they say.
“The siege of civilians is illegal,” the experts stressed, condemning Israel’s “genocidal violence,” including “an unprecedented campaign of hunger.”
“After 17 years of blockade of Gaza, Israel has created a famine by cutting off regular supplies of water, food and basic goods to Gaza, destroying livelihoods, the food system and civilian infrastructure. By failing to fulfill its humanitarian obligations as an occupying power, “Israel is further restricting humanitarian assistance, deliberately bombing aid convoys and attacking aid workers and civilians seeking assistance,” they condemn.
The initiative, they said, is “a tangible manifestation of international support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination, and for the internationally recognized right to receive humanitarian assistance without interference or interruption.”
“Countries are not fulfilling their obligations to end Israel’s genocide and famine in the Gaza Strip. In fact, many countries continue to support Israel with weapons, funds and political support: this could make them complicit in Israel’s genocide and famine,” they warned, before arguing that “this is why civilians such as Freedom Flotilla members are increasingly demonstrate their solidarity by defending and realizing the human rights of Palestinians through direct action.”
The declaration was signed by the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, the Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, and the Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal.
The ships were due to leave Turkey by now but have accumulated several delays, the latest due to a surprise inspection by Guinea-Bissau, whose flag the group’s flagship Akdeniz flies, according to sources at the organization consulted. Europa Press condemning Israel’s “pressure” on the African country.
According to these sources, “everything was fine and ready” to set sail today, but it was unclear when the mission might begin.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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