The Legal and International Advocacy Committee of the Supreme National Commission for the Return Marches and Siege breaking condemns the Israeli Navy's piracy and detention of the Freedom Ship carrying 18 peaceful participants of sick, wounded and students, which aims to shed the light on the daily suffering of citizens due to the 12 years of siege on Gaza strip that amount to crime against humanity.

 According to eyewitnesses, at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, 29/3/2018 the Israeli naval forces intercepted the Freedom Ship 12 miles away from the shores of Gaza Strip, and has drove it to the port of Ashdod.

It is worth mentioning that Gaza Strip is witnessing a catastrophic humanitarian deterioration due to the serious and long-term consequences of the crimes of occupation and the siege imposed on Gaza Strip, which violate the rules of international humanitarian law and a crime against humanity, which are prohibited collective punishments under the rules of international human rights law, and a host of international conventions and treaties, including the Fourth Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949 and the Hague Regulations of 1907, which prohibit collective punishment and repressive measures against civilian.

The siege, which was accompanied by three aggression (2008-2012-2014), had catastrophic humanitarian repercussions on the overall human rights situation, which led to the deterioration of economic and humanitarian conditions and raised the rate of poverty, unemployment and food insecurity.
In addition to the collective punishment imposed by the Palestinian authority on the public servants and residents of Gaza Strip, which exacerbated the population suffering. The Committee is emphasizing that the attack on the Freedom Ship is a new crime added to the occupation record of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Therefore:

 

The Legal and International Advocacy Committee holds the occupation full responsibility for the safety of the peaceful participants on board the Freedom Ship and calls on the international community to condemn the attack and the arrest of the participants, and demand to pressure the Israeli occupation state to release them.
The Legal and International Advocacy Committee calls upon the United Nations and its various bodies, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention to carry out their moral and legal responsibilities to force the Israeli occupation to lift the siege on Gaza Strip and end the suffering of 2 million people in Gaza.

 

3. The Legal and International Advocacy Committee calls upon the President and the Palestinian Government to immediately withdraw the punitive and illegal measures imposed on Gaza Strip and to take the necessary measures to support the steadfastness of the citizens and secure a decent life for them.

4. The Legal and International Advocacy Committee urges the International Solidarity Movement, the Free World, and all regional and international organizations to act at all levels to ensure continuity of the attempts to break the siege, expose and condemn the occupation crimes and support the struggle of the Palestinian people to have their just and legitimate rights.

 

Regards,,,