Mazin Qumsiyeh
31 May 2010
Israeli criminal navy attacks humanitarian ships in International waters. Reports of 10-16 humanitarian activists killed and 50-60 injured. The Israeli army had tried to make the media maneuver of saying they would arrest and take the boats when they enter Gaza coastal waters and tow the boats to port in Asdod (renamed Ashdod after the occupation of 1948) and had prepared tens to house the arrestees at that southern port. Instead the Israeli army decided to execute a surprise maneuver and attack the boats at night and in the north near Cyprus in International waters and then board the boats and take them to the northern port of Haifa. In doing so they committed a massacre of unarmed civilians to add to the hundreds of massacres committed before but this time they have really gone way too far and alienated the international community with this horrendous crime.
Time to demonstrate everywhere and write to all you know and all you do not know (media, politicians etc). Organize your own event (in front of Israeli missions abroad, in front of government buildings, in public squares etc) or join any of the planned emergency demonstrations. In Bethlehem we gather at the Nativity Square and march to the apartheid wall at 2 PM.
Updates at http://witnessgaza.com/ and
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD http://qumsiyeh.org
I just woke up to a call telling me Israel has killed 9 passengers on one of the ships. In 2008 I was on one of 2 ships.None of us carry weapons. Many of us were women and senior citizens. Israel has no soul,no conscience. Just as it massacred Gaza;it massacres the people going to Gaza.