December 30, 2008

Israeli Navy Attacks Civilian Mercy Ship

The Dignity, a boat traveling with the Free Gaza Movement, is rammed by Israeli Navy

By December 29. 2008

The Dignity was been surrounded by at least half-a-dozen Israeli warships. They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage. Contrary to
international maritime law, the Israelis are actively preventing the Dignity from approaching Gaza or finding safe haven in either Egypt or Lebanon. Instead, the Israeli navy is demanding that the Dignity return to Cyprus - despite the
fact that the ship does not carry enough fuel to do so.

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Civilians On Board

There were 15 civilian passengers representing 11 different countries. At approximately 5am (UST), well out in international waters, Israeli warships began surrounding the Dignity, threatening the ship.

At 6:45am Free Gaza activists were able to establish brief contact with the crew and were told that the ship had been rammed by the Israeli Navy in international waters, and that the Israelis were preventing the ship from finding safe harbor. Organizers heard heavy gunfire in the background before all contact was lost with the Dignity.

Background

The Dignity departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus at 7pm (UST) on Monday 29 December, bound for war-dev astated Gaza with a cargo of over 3 tons of desperately needed medical supplies donated by the people of Cyprus.

At the request of organizers, the ship was searched by Cypriot Port authorities prior to departure, to certify that there was nothing "threatening" aboard - only emergency medical supplies.

Call For Immediate Action

The Free Gaza Movement requests that supporters CALL the Israeli Government and demand that it immediately STOP attacking the Dignity and endangering the lives of its passengers.

Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
+972 2670 5354 or +972 5062 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il

Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
+972 33697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il