Gaza Freedom Flotilla Australia

Please visit www.freegazaoz.org for free gaza updated news.

20/7/11

While in recent weeks, the Greek Government has prevented most of the Flotilla from departing for Gaza, one boat made it past the Greek cordon.

On July 20, 150 Israeli soldiers, in three missile ships and seven commando boats attacked the small boat, the Dignite Al Karame and arrested the 10 activists, three crew and three journalists on board. This took place in international waters, rendering Israel's interception an act of piracy under international law.

See latest Flotilla Updates here.

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13/7/11

Sylvia and Vivienne win right not to be deported

13/7/11

Australian human rights campaigners held by Israel

Vivienne and Sylvia detained in Flytilla
Various videos here and here.

Sylvia Hale and Vivienne Porzsolt flew yesterday from Athens to Tel Aviv to participate in the “Welcome to Palestine” initiative. They have been detained by the Israeli authorities and are facing deportation unless their Israeli human rights lawyers is able to mount a successful appeal. Read more here and below.

Neither Vivienne nor Sylvia has committed any crime but they have been honest with Israeli authorities about their intention to visit Palestine and their Palestinian friends.
It is not possible to visit or to work with Palestinians without passing through Israeli border controls. Please take action to support them.

THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO:
Please telephone today first the Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, then the Israeli embassy, then write a letter to the papers:

Contact Kevin Rudd's office:
Telephone: (02) 6277 7500 Fax: (02) 6273 4112 Email: kevin.rudd©dfat.gov.au

Tell them you have 3 questions:

1. What are you doing to reassure the Australian people that the Australian government supports the right of Australian citizens to visit friends in Palestine without being detained and/or deported by the Israeli government?

2. What are you doing to reassure the Australian people that the Australian government supports the right of Palestinians to receive visitors from overseas without those visitors being harassed and/or deported by the Israeli government?

3. Will you be making a public statement supporting the right of two highly respected Australians, Sylvia Hale, retired NSW Member of Parliament and former Marrickville councillor, and Vivienne Porzsolt, spokesperson for Jews against the Occupation-Sydney, to visit Palestine?

Contact the Israeli embassy - telephone 6215 4500 (press 8 for English then 2 for the ambassador's office)
Ask them:

1. Why they have detained Sylvia Hale and Vivienne Porzsolt at Tel Aviv airport?

2. Why they have not allowed Sylvia Hale and Vivienne Porzsolt to travel to Palestine?

3. Why they have refused entry to hundreds of people from Europe and America who wish to visit Palestine?

More Information

Former Greens MP, activist detained in Israel
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-13/greens-mp-and-activist-detained-in-israel/2792348

Israel blocks pro-Palestinian 'flytilla' activists
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14084547

Israel airport arrests
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14116304

Letters to the editor

letters©smh.com.au

letters©theaustralian.com.au

letters.editor©canberratimes.com.au

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Open Letter To Julia Gillard

14 June 2011

The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister
Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Ms Gillard,

We, the undersigned, are Australian citizens who will shortly be departing Australia to participate in the 2011 Freedom Flotilla 2 to break the blockade of Gaza. We will be joining a peaceful, non-violent sea convoy transporting humanitarian goods and messages of solidarity and goodwill to the besieged people of Gaza. We are participating in the Freedom Flotilla 2 because we believe the blockade of Gaza is contrary to international law and violates the human rights of Gaza’s civilian population, the majority of whom are children.

Our reasons, in brief, are:

1. Israel is an occupying power that, since 2007, has exercised effective control over Gaza’s territorial waters, its airspace, and the flow of people and goods through its land borders.

2. As an occupying power, the Fourth Geneva Convention obliges the Government of Israel to protect all civilians in Gaza and allow them adequate access to food and medical supplies

3. The Government of Israel’s imposition and maintenance of the blockade is a disproportionate and non-targeted response to threats to Israel’s security that has resulted in the collective punishment of Gaza’s 1.5 million civilians, so much so that 80 per cent of the population are forced to rely on United Nations food assistance to survive, with malnutrition and poverty being widespread.

4. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and numerous human rights organisations have all condemned the blockade as illegal and called upon Israel to lift the siege.

5. Governments are bound not only to uphold but also to act upon violations of international law and human rights treaties. The Australian Government has consistently failed to discharge its responsibility. We are conscious that the silence of the Government of Australia and its failure to speak out against the blockade is tantamount to Australia condoning Israel’s callous disregard for the human rights of the citizens of Gaza and its refusal to comply with its international obligations. It is this silence that compels us as citizens of good conscience to act where our Government has so consistently failed to do so.

We therefore call upon the Government of Australia to remind the Government of Israel of its obligations under international law and to demand the immediate cessation of the blockade. We are equally mindful, on the eve of our departure, of last year’s lethal assault in international waters on Freedom Flotilla 1 and the overwhelming condemnation of the Israeli Government’s actions. We note that nine civilians were killed, one Australian citizen was shot, and others were wounded, illegally detained and their personal possessions confiscated. We therefore call upon the Australian Government to exert its utmost influence to prevent a repetition of last year’s attack and to ensure the safety of all on board Freedom Flotilla 2.

We reiterate that the Flotilla is a peaceful, unarmed convoy. We are committed to non-violence and will offer no active resistance should our vessel or the convoy be subject to attack. Our actions will at all times be lawful. We expect, therefore, to receive the full protections of the Australian Government should we be harmed or illegally detained when overseas.

Michael Coleman, Sylvia Hale, Vivienne Porzsolt and Nick Wallwork.

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When the Israeli Government intercepted and attacked the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters, it intended to deter people from attempting to break the siege of Gaza. Instead, organisers of the Flotilla were inundated with calls and emails from people around the world wanting to join the next Flotilla.

We believe it is people who will break the siege of Gaza, not governments. In fact the humble and hardworking program of the GFF has put governments and international bodies to shame.

Plans have been finalised for the next Flotilla and we are raising money to contribute to the aid being sent as well as sending a contingent from Australia to be a part of it. See why three of the Australian delegates are going: (Sylvia, Vivienne and Michael).

They join activists from approximately 50 countries. We have partnered with a Canadian organisation and our boat named 'Tahrir' meaning "Liberation' in Arabic will carry approximately 50 passengers and crew.

The Tahrir will sail in this humanitarian mission, along with vessels from France, USA, Britain, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Greece and other countries, as part of the Freedom Flotilla II. This international movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people turns the spotlight on the blockade of Gaza and its 1.6 million residents whose access to resources and ability to travel has been unilaterally impeded by the illegal Israeli blockade.

Despite news that Egypt has partially opened the Rafah border crossing, the maritime blockade by Israel remains a major obstacle to achieving normal life in Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla movement will continue until the Port of Gaza is opened to ensure free circulation of goods and people. “Gaza is the only port on the Mediterranean which is closed to shipping and the only coastal area in the world which cannot access its own territorial waters,” points out David Heap of the Canadian Boat to Gaza steering committee. “Until the Palestinians of Gaza can travel freely and trade with the world, we will continue to challenge this illegal military blockade.”

As the Israeli government continues to threaten the use of force against the Freedom Flotilla II, we call on all Australians, including Members of Parliament from all parties, to join with us in demanding that the Australian Government takes concrete steps to guarantee the safety of humanitarians headed to Gaza.

The world is watching: we will not be intimidated and we will not forget the Palestinians of Gaza.

For more information on the Australian contingent and/or to get involved:
Facebook
Twitter: @GFFAusGroup
E: gffausgroup©gmail.com

For more information on the Flotilla and other organisations participating see:

EU Freedom Flotilla
The Canadian Boat to Gaza - The Tahrir
The Irish Ship to Gaza
Free Gaza Movement Danmark
The Spanish Boats - Rumbo A Gaza
Freedom Flotilla Italia
The Free Gaza Movement
The US Boat to Gaza - The Audacity of Hope
Witness Gaza

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