For the last few days, Gaza has been under assault by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). The US press is reporting the Israeli attack to be in response to rocket fire coming from the Gaza strip, although the sequence of events isn’t quite that simple. So far, 15 Palestinians have been killed, eight of which…
Israel Still Holding Gaza-Bound Passengers, Including Parliamentarians; Some Tasered Video Disproves Israeli Government Claims on Estelle Cargo; 3 Israelis, 18 Internationals Held For immediate release: contact: US Boat to Gaza, Robert Naiman, 217-979-2857; naiman@justforeignpolicy.org; Richard Levy, 917-797-4466 New York, October 21, 3pm EDT – More than 24 hours after their illegal detention in international waters…
This is a translation of part of a Swedish press report. I am responsible for the translation, in consultation with the Swedish media team of the Estelle. The Swedish Government and the EU insist that there is a severe humanitarian situation in Gaza and that the border crossings must be opened; this is a position…
Israel attacks Gaza-bound boat in International Waters, Defying International Law Kidnaps Parliamentarians and activists For immediate release contact: US Boat to Gaza, Robert Naiman, 217-979-2857; naiman@justforeignpolicy.org Jane Hirschmann, 845 246 6494; kaneri46@gmail.com New York, October 20, 10AM EDT – Shortly after 4:00AM EDT, when the Gaza-bound Estelle was in international waters about 30 nautical miles…
Will the news media let Ron Paul raise serious questions about U.S. foreign policy? It’s a crucial test case not only of the prospects that the media will serve the interests of the 99% rather than the 1%, but of the prospects for a foreign military and economic policy that reflects the values and interests…
Just Foreign Policy has received confirmation that activist Kit Kittredge, the US delegate to the Freedom Waves flotilla, is presently on a plane back to New York after being detained for 72 hours in the Israeli jail of Givon. The other US citizen that was detained, Democracy Now! correspondent Jihan Hafiz, was deported last night…
Earlier this morning, it was learned that Jihan Hafiz, US citizen and Democracy Now! correspondent aboard the Tahrir, had been deported from Israel after being detained at Givon prison for 72 hours. Soon after arriving in New York, she sat down with Amy Goodman to talk about the flotilla interception and her subsequent detention in…
Earlier today, the two ships that compose the Freedom Waves flotilla to Gaza–the Saoirse and the Tahrir–were commandeered by the Israeli Defense Forces. The IDF has since released two videos. One video portrays the boarding of both vessels and is heavily edited. Still, we can clearly see the use of a water cannon on the…
UPDATE 11:30AM: The IDF is reporting that it has boarded the two ships that compose the Freedom Waves flotila–the Saoirse and the Tahrir— and are now towing to Ashdod. Once there, the peace activists on board will be handed over to the Israel police. The boats were seized in international waters. One American, Kit Kittredge,…
Contacts: Jane Hirschmann 917-679-8343, 212-222-6721 Felice Gelman 917-912-2597 Medea Benjamin (in Turkey with ground crew) 90 531 888 8927 BOATS EN ROUTE TO GAZA SURROUNDED BY ISRAELI WARSHIPS New York – November 4, 2011 At 7:43 am ground support crew lost contact with two ships, the Saoirse of Ireland and the Tahrir of Canada, carrying…