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The Irish Anti-War Movement

The Irish Anti War Movement Strongly Condemns the killing of as many as 19 peace activists on the Gaza Freedom Flotila

The Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM) strongly condemns the killing of as many as 19 peace activists aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and calls on the Irish government to ensure the immediate release of detained activists and to immediately expel the Israeli Ambassador from Ireland.

This is an outrageous terror act by the Israeli State on a peaceful flotilla attempting to bring vital humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza.

The boats are now being towed to Haifa, not Ashdod, so as to limit media-coverage of the event. The injured are being taken to hospitals but are forbidden to tell anyone which hospital.

The flotilla of boats, which had been on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza, was stormed by Israeli commandos who descended from helicopters and killed up to 19 activists and injured dozens more. Israel is claiming that the peace activists fired the first shots. However, Free Gaza has called this a flat-out lie and has video-footage to prove it.

The Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM) strongly condemns the killing of as many as 19 peace activists aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and calls on the Irish government to ensure the immediate release of detained activists and to immediately expel the Israeli Ambassador from Ireland.

This is an outrageous terror act by the Israeli State on a peaceful flotilla attempting to bring vital humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza.

The boats are now being towed to Haifa, not Ashdod, so as to limit media-coverage of the event. The injured are being taken to hospitals but are forbidden to tell anyone which hospital.

The flotilla of boats, which had been on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza, was stormed by Israeli commandos who descended from helicopters and killed up to 19 activists and injured dozens more. Israel is claiming that the peace activists fired the first shots. However, Free Gaza has called this a flat-out lie and has video-footage to prove it.

Carrying tons of building materials, medical and school supplies, the flotilla’s only aim was to overcome the siege of Gaza through civil resistance and non-violent direct action, and establish a permanent sea lane between Gaza and the rest of the world. In clear breach of international law, Israel has attacked the flotilla in international waters.

Earlier over the weekend Greek Cypriot authorities had prevented some Irish activists getting onto the boats. Among those prevented by Cypriot police from joining the flotilla were Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Fianna Fáil’s Chris Andrews and Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly.

Around 10pm on Sunday night the flotilla was surrounded by Israeli ships and helicopters. The Israeli navy contacted the flotilla by radio and asked the boats to identify themselves. Text messages released from passengers on the boats informed that 3 Israeli boats had approached the flotilla when it was still 78 miles from the nearest Israeli shore. One text chillingly said “From the IHH ship: people here put on their life jackets, every body preparing here."

The European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG) confirmed at 11.00pm that it had lost communication with other boats due to Israel army satellite jam attempts. Live streaming provided by an Aljazeerah news crew on the IHH ship reported at 1.00am GMT that the flotilla was pressing on and expected to land in Gaza at 10.00am (8am GMT). Morale seemed high among the interviewed passengers on the boat despite the danger of an overnight raid.

Audrey Bomse, an adviser to the Free Gaza Movement, said that another ship that had left from Ireland, the Rachel Corrie, is still en route and is scheduled to join the flotilla at a later time this week, along with two smaller boats that were forced to abandon the flotilla due to engine failure.

The Irish Anti War Movement reminds the Irish government that the UN has called the Israeli siege of Gaza "medieval" and has asked the International community to break it.

Anti-Israel rallies will be held in Europe’s capitals later today. We call on all people of conscience to protest the killing of activists aboard the flotilla and – there will be a protest at the Israeli Embassy at 12.30pm today ??????  and another at the Spire in Dublin starting at 6.00pm.

For further info contact:
Richard Boyd Barrett, Chair IAWM, 086 781 4520
Chloe Sands, Secretary IAWM, 086 393 8821
Jim Roche, PRO IAWM, 087 6472737

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