5 june 2016
The activities of the global week to break the siege on Gaza kicked off on Saturday morning with the participation of more than 25 European institutions working for Palestine throughout the European continent.
The spokesman for the European campaign to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, Khamis Kirt, said that they have completed the preparations for the launch of the week's events, stressing the importance to educate the European public opinion about the suffering of Gazans under the siege over the past ten years.
Kirt noted that such events play a significant role in exposing the ugly face of the Israeli occupation, "which uses all means to cover up their crimes against the Palestinians in general and the people of the Gaza Strip in particular."
The events began in a number of cities across the European continent, in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Dortmund in Germany, in conjunction with the launch of similar events in Stockholm, Vickso, Atibora, Hlsnbura, and Malmo in Sweden, Paris and Lyon in France, Dublin the Irish capital, Vienna in Austria, the Greek capital Athens, the Italian city of Genoa in addition to similar activities in the Madrid in Spain, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
In his turn, the Chairman of the Palestinian Assembly in Germany, Suhail Abu Shamala, praised the efforts of the Palestinians in Europe and the liberals of the world in telling the world about the suffering of the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
He pointed to the role of the Palestinians in Germany in this regard; "where they work on making the public opinion in Germany aware of the tragedy of the siege and the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and to address the Israeli occupation version through which it tries to cover up its crimes against the besieged Gaza Strip.”
Furthermore, the spokesman for the global campaign to break the siege on Gaza and the member of its Board of Directors, Mansour al-Aakel, pointed to the importance of the international dimension of the events of solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which includes many Arab and international cities, praising the cooperation of hundreds of local institutions all over the world for their participation in the events of the global week to break the siege on Gaza.
Al-Aakel stressed the need for the continuation of activities of solidarity with the people of Gaza to break the siege and open all ports and crossings to ensure the freedom of movement for more than two million Palestinians trapped in the enclave, including the seaport and airport and to end the separation between Gaza and the West Bank.
In the same context, the Palestinian Assembly in Germany organized on Friday a rally in solidarity with the Gaza Strip in the city of Dortmund, raising banners which describe the huge suffering experienced by the people of the Gaza Strip.
The global campaign to break the siege on Gaza has begun a wide series of events last Monday in conjunction with the anniversary of the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara massacre.
The spokesman for the European campaign to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, Khamis Kirt, said that they have completed the preparations for the launch of the week's events, stressing the importance to educate the European public opinion about the suffering of Gazans under the siege over the past ten years.
Kirt noted that such events play a significant role in exposing the ugly face of the Israeli occupation, "which uses all means to cover up their crimes against the Palestinians in general and the people of the Gaza Strip in particular."
The events began in a number of cities across the European continent, in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Dortmund in Germany, in conjunction with the launch of similar events in Stockholm, Vickso, Atibora, Hlsnbura, and Malmo in Sweden, Paris and Lyon in France, Dublin the Irish capital, Vienna in Austria, the Greek capital Athens, the Italian city of Genoa in addition to similar activities in the Madrid in Spain, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
In his turn, the Chairman of the Palestinian Assembly in Germany, Suhail Abu Shamala, praised the efforts of the Palestinians in Europe and the liberals of the world in telling the world about the suffering of the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
He pointed to the role of the Palestinians in Germany in this regard; "where they work on making the public opinion in Germany aware of the tragedy of the siege and the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and to address the Israeli occupation version through which it tries to cover up its crimes against the besieged Gaza Strip.”
Furthermore, the spokesman for the global campaign to break the siege on Gaza and the member of its Board of Directors, Mansour al-Aakel, pointed to the importance of the international dimension of the events of solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which includes many Arab and international cities, praising the cooperation of hundreds of local institutions all over the world for their participation in the events of the global week to break the siege on Gaza.
Al-Aakel stressed the need for the continuation of activities of solidarity with the people of Gaza to break the siege and open all ports and crossings to ensure the freedom of movement for more than two million Palestinians trapped in the enclave, including the seaport and airport and to end the separation between Gaza and the West Bank.
In the same context, the Palestinian Assembly in Germany organized on Friday a rally in solidarity with the Gaza Strip in the city of Dortmund, raising banners which describe the huge suffering experienced by the people of the Gaza Strip.
The global campaign to break the siege on Gaza has begun a wide series of events last Monday in conjunction with the anniversary of the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara massacre.
2 june 2016
Turkish activists aboard the aid ship Mavi Marmara never thought that they would come under gunfire attack by Israeli special forces at sea just for attempting to break the siege on Gaza with a consignment of humanitarian aid.
The international activists heading to Gaza aboard 11 ships within the freedom flotilla hoped that their ships would dock in the port of Gaza.
However, Israeli naval forces intercepted and stormed the biggest ship in the fleet, the Mavi Marmara, which was carrying 581 activists, mostly Turks.
The Israeli forces opened fire on the ship, committing a massacre during which 10 Turks were killed and dozens wounded while all activists on board were arrested and deported under the pretext of "entry into Israel without official permission."
"Winds of Heaven", the title of the operation carried out by the Israeli Navy in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, preventing the Turkish Relief Foundation and the Free Gaza Movement from delivering goods, medical supplies and construction materials to Gaza, which was suffering the most dire times of the blockade.
The Israeli piracy provoked wide international criticism and raised demands for prosecuting Israeli officials at international courts over this crime.
Lift the blockade
The first diplomatic response of the Turkish government was expelling the Israeli ambassador, downgrading the Israeli diplomatic representation level to the second level, and freezing military and economic relations with Israel on the 2nd September, 2011.
As a result Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, on 22nd September 2013, sent a message to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at that time, admitting the occurrence of "some operational mistakes" in dealing with the flotilla, promising to pay compensations to the families of the victims in exchange for an agreement not to prosecute any party that is involved in the incident.
Turkish-Israeli talks on normalizing relations are still underway, as Ankara demands lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip for the completion of the agreement, according to a spokesman for the Freedom and Justice Party (the ruling party in Turkey).
Commemoration of the crime in Gaza On the sixth anniversary of the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla, dozens of Palestinians participated in a rally to commemorate the victims of the Mavi Marmara near the monument built for the martyrs of the ship at Gaza port.
The participants carried placards with photographs and names of the Turkish victims of this crime. The director of the Turkish Humanitarian group (IHH) office in Gaza, Muhammad Kaya, during a speech at the rally organized by the IHH said: "Today we commemorate the martyrs of Mavi Marmara who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Palestine and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip."
Kaya called on the Palestinian factions to forge national unity for the liberation of Palestine. The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is a Turkish charity organization, which operates in 120 countries.
It was founded in 1992 in order to help Muslims in Bosnia, and had since then provided relief services in different areas of the world.
The blockade on the Gaza Strip was imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities since the victory of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in the legislative elections that took place in January 2006, then the IOA tightened the blockade in June 2007 when Hamas Movement took over control of the Gaza Strip.
The international activists heading to Gaza aboard 11 ships within the freedom flotilla hoped that their ships would dock in the port of Gaza.
However, Israeli naval forces intercepted and stormed the biggest ship in the fleet, the Mavi Marmara, which was carrying 581 activists, mostly Turks.
The Israeli forces opened fire on the ship, committing a massacre during which 10 Turks were killed and dozens wounded while all activists on board were arrested and deported under the pretext of "entry into Israel without official permission."
"Winds of Heaven", the title of the operation carried out by the Israeli Navy in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, preventing the Turkish Relief Foundation and the Free Gaza Movement from delivering goods, medical supplies and construction materials to Gaza, which was suffering the most dire times of the blockade.
The Israeli piracy provoked wide international criticism and raised demands for prosecuting Israeli officials at international courts over this crime.
Lift the blockade
The first diplomatic response of the Turkish government was expelling the Israeli ambassador, downgrading the Israeli diplomatic representation level to the second level, and freezing military and economic relations with Israel on the 2nd September, 2011.
As a result Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, on 22nd September 2013, sent a message to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at that time, admitting the occurrence of "some operational mistakes" in dealing with the flotilla, promising to pay compensations to the families of the victims in exchange for an agreement not to prosecute any party that is involved in the incident.
Turkish-Israeli talks on normalizing relations are still underway, as Ankara demands lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip for the completion of the agreement, according to a spokesman for the Freedom and Justice Party (the ruling party in Turkey).
Commemoration of the crime in Gaza On the sixth anniversary of the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla, dozens of Palestinians participated in a rally to commemorate the victims of the Mavi Marmara near the monument built for the martyrs of the ship at Gaza port.
The participants carried placards with photographs and names of the Turkish victims of this crime. The director of the Turkish Humanitarian group (IHH) office in Gaza, Muhammad Kaya, during a speech at the rally organized by the IHH said: "Today we commemorate the martyrs of Mavi Marmara who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Palestine and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip."
Kaya called on the Palestinian factions to forge national unity for the liberation of Palestine. The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is a Turkish charity organization, which operates in 120 countries.
It was founded in 1992 in order to help Muslims in Bosnia, and had since then provided relief services in different areas of the world.
The blockade on the Gaza Strip was imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities since the victory of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in the legislative elections that took place in January 2006, then the IOA tightened the blockade in June 2007 when Hamas Movement took over control of the Gaza Strip.
29 may 2016
The world campaign for the support of women boats to Gaza declared May 31 as the world solidarity day with Gaza in commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the Israeli attack on Mavi Marmara solidarity ship.
In a press statement on Saturday, Dr. Issam Yousuf, head of the world popular committee for the support of Gaza, called for massive action to end the Israeli siege on Gaza Strip.
He asked the international community to protect the women boats heading to Gaza and guarantee their arrival to the Strip with no objection or interception by Israeli navy.
He also urged for adopting the Palestinian demands of establishing a harbor in Gaza and providing the floating power plant. He called on Egypt to open Rafah border crossing and to establish a commercial zone with Gaza Strip.
Yousuf said, "The siege is a massive punishment and a crime against humanity in Palestine", and called for tabling the Israeli crimes at the international courts in order to prosecute Israeli army and political leaders.
In a press statement on Saturday, Dr. Issam Yousuf, head of the world popular committee for the support of Gaza, called for massive action to end the Israeli siege on Gaza Strip.
He asked the international community to protect the women boats heading to Gaza and guarantee their arrival to the Strip with no objection or interception by Israeli navy.
He also urged for adopting the Palestinian demands of establishing a harbor in Gaza and providing the floating power plant. He called on Egypt to open Rafah border crossing and to establish a commercial zone with Gaza Strip.
Yousuf said, "The siege is a massive punishment and a crime against humanity in Palestine", and called for tabling the Israeli crimes at the international courts in order to prosecute Israeli army and political leaders.
Thousands of Turkish citizens and activists joined a march commemorating the Mavi Marmara massacre perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces off the Mediterranean waters.
The march kicked off from the Taqsim Square in Istanbul under the slogan “We shall keep marching until Occupied Jerusalem is liberated.”
The Arab community in Turkey lifted the Palestinian and Turkish flags and chanted slogans calling for breaking the Israeli siege on Gaza.
10 Turkish activists were killed after the Israeli navy commandos attacked the Marmara freedom flotilla with bullet fire and teargas canisters while on its way to break the Israeli siege on Gaza on May 31, 2010.
The march kicked off from the Taqsim Square in Istanbul under the slogan “We shall keep marching until Occupied Jerusalem is liberated.”
The Arab community in Turkey lifted the Palestinian and Turkish flags and chanted slogans calling for breaking the Israeli siege on Gaza.
10 Turkish activists were killed after the Israeli navy commandos attacked the Marmara freedom flotilla with bullet fire and teargas canisters while on its way to break the Israeli siege on Gaza on May 31, 2010.
25 may 2016
Coordinator of the National Movement to Break the Siege on Gaza, Alaa al-Batta, Tuesday called on the Palestinian diasporas and world’s activists to join the International Week to Lift the Siege on Gaza starting May 31.
Al-Batta said during a mass-rally attended by dozens of Palestinian women that the Global Campaign to Break the Siege on Gaza is expected to launch an international anti-siege week by the end of May in line with the anniversary of the Marmara massacre.
Al-Batta urged the international community and the World Humanitarian Summit held in Turkey in the presence of the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon and the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to opt for serious moves to lift the illegal siege.
Feminist activist Raja al-Halabi, from Hamas Movement, dubbed the Israeli blockade “a multiparty crime.” Al-Halabi urged the Arab community to speak up for the Palestinian cause.
Spokeswoman for the International Campaign to Break the Siege, Mona Skeik, also called on the Palestinian masses to join the international anti-blockade week from May 31 to June 5.
Al-Batta said during a mass-rally attended by dozens of Palestinian women that the Global Campaign to Break the Siege on Gaza is expected to launch an international anti-siege week by the end of May in line with the anniversary of the Marmara massacre.
Al-Batta urged the international community and the World Humanitarian Summit held in Turkey in the presence of the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon and the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to opt for serious moves to lift the illegal siege.
Feminist activist Raja al-Halabi, from Hamas Movement, dubbed the Israeli blockade “a multiparty crime.” Al-Halabi urged the Arab community to speak up for the Palestinian cause.
Spokeswoman for the International Campaign to Break the Siege, Mona Skeik, also called on the Palestinian masses to join the international anti-blockade week from May 31 to June 5.
25 apr 2016
Turkish presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalin said that his country's talks with Israel with regard to restoring the relations between the two sides reached its final stage.
Addressing a news conference at the presidential complex in Ankara Monday, Kalin said that "The Turkish leadership is about to reach the final step in its ongoing negotiation with Israel" and that "a new meeting is planned in the near future."
After a final agreement is made on the last two articles about reparations [ to Turkish victims] and the blockade [on Gaza], a deal will be signed and steps will start to normalize the relations," he added.
"We expect Israel to take the necessary steps to improve the humanitarian conditions in Gaza," he said. Ties between the two sides strained in 2010 when Israeli commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara aid ship as it was attempting to break the blockade on Gaza in international waters, killing 10 Turkish activists on its board.
Ankara demanded an apology over the incident as well as compensation for the families of those killed and the removal of Gaza blockade in order to fix its relations with Israel. Netanyahu issued an apology in 2013, but the last two conditions has remained outstanding.
Addressing a news conference at the presidential complex in Ankara Monday, Kalin said that "The Turkish leadership is about to reach the final step in its ongoing negotiation with Israel" and that "a new meeting is planned in the near future."
After a final agreement is made on the last two articles about reparations [ to Turkish victims] and the blockade [on Gaza], a deal will be signed and steps will start to normalize the relations," he added.
"We expect Israel to take the necessary steps to improve the humanitarian conditions in Gaza," he said. Ties between the two sides strained in 2010 when Israeli commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara aid ship as it was attempting to break the blockade on Gaza in international waters, killing 10 Turkish activists on its board.
Ankara demanded an apology over the incident as well as compensation for the families of those killed and the removal of Gaza blockade in order to fix its relations with Israel. Netanyahu issued an apology in 2013, but the last two conditions has remained outstanding.
13 jan 2016
Four people, including three Americans, have filed a civil suit against the state of Israel, seeking compensatory damages for injuries suffered during an attack aboard a U.S. ship in international waters during the year 2010.
At a Washington press conference, Tuesday, the plaintiffs said they wanted compensation for "the harm and distress, injuries and losses caused by the attack".
Israel has refused to acknowledge responsibility and liability for the attack and is yet to pay compensation to victims aboard the Challenger I, which was part of a Freedom Flotilla set to deliver humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip, which was and still remains under an Israeli blockade.
According to the complaint, the U.S. ship has never been returned by Israel and is still being held there.
Israeli special forces stormed the ships and killed nine civilians aboard another ship in the flotilla, the Turkish Mavi Marmara. That event has since frozen relations between Israel and Turkey.
That case was referred to the International Criminal Court by the Union of the Comoros because the Turkish vessel was sailing under its flag.
The family of a 19-year old American-Turkish national, Furkan Dogan, who was killed in the Mavi Marmara raid, last October, sued former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on war crimes charges.
The latest lawsuit filed Monday is the first U.S. case brought against Israel relating to the Freedom Flotilla.
The plaintiffs and their attorneys spoke to Anadolu Agency, following a press conference that announced the suit:
“States are generally immune from suit in United States courts. But that immunity is waived in a number of circumstances. When agents of foreign governments commit wrongful acts in the United States that cause personal injury, and egregious acts against U.S. nationals anywhere in the world, they are not entitled to immunity," said lawyer Steven Schneebaum.
He noted that both exceptions apply to the facts of Challenger I case because a U.S. flagged ship falls under U.S. jurisdiction.
The case is ground-breaking as it relies on an exception in American law that allows lawsuits to be brought against foreign states, in limited cases.
According to professor Ralph Steinhardt, a member of the plaintiffs’ legal team, Israel's sovereignty does not allow it to attack American flagged civilian ships and attack those on it.
"The attack on Challenger I was a patent violation of international law, including the laws of war, human rights, and the law of the sea," according to the George Washington University international law professor.
A UK-based international lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Sir Geoffrey Nice, described the case against Israel as "a real test” for the rule of international law.
"This case, alongside the others, the one in the International Criminal Court and the one in California would have the following very clear political outcome: If Israel has enjoyed special privileged status of impunity because of protection by the United State of America, then that impunity is on the way out," he said.
One of the plaintiffs, Huwaida Arraf, said she has been intimidated by Israeli and U.S. authorities on several occasions since she began to seek redress for her grievances.
A dual U.S.-Israeli national and human rights activist, Arraf said that she was physically abused by Israeli soldiers who slammed her head against the deck of the ship, and stood on it, before they handcuffed and placed a hood over her head.
"In 2014, for example FBI came to my house while I was at work while my child and my parents were at home," she said, noting that there was no reason for FBI agents to go to her home. She believes her activism work was the reason behind the visit.
She added that she has to endure hours of interrogation by airport officials whenever she travels to Israel.
Another plaintiff, David Schermerhorn, said the group wants "Israeli authorities to be held accountable” for what they did.
"They should not get away with needless violence against unarmed civilians and with stealing humanitarian aid and our belongings," he said via conference call.
Schermerhorn claims he was injured when a stun grenade thrown at him exploded one foot from his head, causing permanent partial vision loss in his right eye.
Hakan Camuz of Stoke & White LLP based in London that represents the passengers on all ships in the flotilla told Anadolu Agency that he hopes the U.S. courts will uphold the case.
He implied that it would be a political decision if the court failed to uphold the case.
“The plaintiffs, like all those on the flotilla, were trying to do the right thing by bringing to the world's attention the cruelty of the blockade and its dire humanitarian consequences for the ordinary people of Gaza," he said.
"They wanted to bring the residents of Gaza food, medical supplies, the necessities to survive, but were stopped with unjustified, brutal force, for which we now seek a just remedy,” he added.
At a Washington press conference, Tuesday, the plaintiffs said they wanted compensation for "the harm and distress, injuries and losses caused by the attack".
Israel has refused to acknowledge responsibility and liability for the attack and is yet to pay compensation to victims aboard the Challenger I, which was part of a Freedom Flotilla set to deliver humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip, which was and still remains under an Israeli blockade.
According to the complaint, the U.S. ship has never been returned by Israel and is still being held there.
Israeli special forces stormed the ships and killed nine civilians aboard another ship in the flotilla, the Turkish Mavi Marmara. That event has since frozen relations between Israel and Turkey.
That case was referred to the International Criminal Court by the Union of the Comoros because the Turkish vessel was sailing under its flag.
The family of a 19-year old American-Turkish national, Furkan Dogan, who was killed in the Mavi Marmara raid, last October, sued former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on war crimes charges.
The latest lawsuit filed Monday is the first U.S. case brought against Israel relating to the Freedom Flotilla.
The plaintiffs and their attorneys spoke to Anadolu Agency, following a press conference that announced the suit:
“States are generally immune from suit in United States courts. But that immunity is waived in a number of circumstances. When agents of foreign governments commit wrongful acts in the United States that cause personal injury, and egregious acts against U.S. nationals anywhere in the world, they are not entitled to immunity," said lawyer Steven Schneebaum.
He noted that both exceptions apply to the facts of Challenger I case because a U.S. flagged ship falls under U.S. jurisdiction.
The case is ground-breaking as it relies on an exception in American law that allows lawsuits to be brought against foreign states, in limited cases.
According to professor Ralph Steinhardt, a member of the plaintiffs’ legal team, Israel's sovereignty does not allow it to attack American flagged civilian ships and attack those on it.
"The attack on Challenger I was a patent violation of international law, including the laws of war, human rights, and the law of the sea," according to the George Washington University international law professor.
A UK-based international lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Sir Geoffrey Nice, described the case against Israel as "a real test” for the rule of international law.
"This case, alongside the others, the one in the International Criminal Court and the one in California would have the following very clear political outcome: If Israel has enjoyed special privileged status of impunity because of protection by the United State of America, then that impunity is on the way out," he said.
One of the plaintiffs, Huwaida Arraf, said she has been intimidated by Israeli and U.S. authorities on several occasions since she began to seek redress for her grievances.
A dual U.S.-Israeli national and human rights activist, Arraf said that she was physically abused by Israeli soldiers who slammed her head against the deck of the ship, and stood on it, before they handcuffed and placed a hood over her head.
"In 2014, for example FBI came to my house while I was at work while my child and my parents were at home," she said, noting that there was no reason for FBI agents to go to her home. She believes her activism work was the reason behind the visit.
She added that she has to endure hours of interrogation by airport officials whenever she travels to Israel.
Another plaintiff, David Schermerhorn, said the group wants "Israeli authorities to be held accountable” for what they did.
"They should not get away with needless violence against unarmed civilians and with stealing humanitarian aid and our belongings," he said via conference call.
Schermerhorn claims he was injured when a stun grenade thrown at him exploded one foot from his head, causing permanent partial vision loss in his right eye.
Hakan Camuz of Stoke & White LLP based in London that represents the passengers on all ships in the flotilla told Anadolu Agency that he hopes the U.S. courts will uphold the case.
He implied that it would be a political decision if the court failed to uphold the case.
“The plaintiffs, like all those on the flotilla, were trying to do the right thing by bringing to the world's attention the cruelty of the blockade and its dire humanitarian consequences for the ordinary people of Gaza," he said.
"They wanted to bring the residents of Gaza food, medical supplies, the necessities to survive, but were stopped with unjustified, brutal force, for which we now seek a just remedy,” he added.
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