Free Gaza: Official Notification of Intent to Enter Gaza
By Guest Post • Jun 24th, 2009 at 22:12 • Category: Action Alert, Ideas and Projects, Israel, Newswire, Palestine, Resistance
June 24, 2009
To: The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Fax: 972-3-697-6717
To: The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax: 972-2-5303367
From: The Free Gaza Movement
This letter serves as a formal notification to you, as the Occupying
Power and belligerent force in the Gaza Strip, that on Thursday, June
25, 2009 we are navigating the motor vessel Spirit of Humanity, and the
motor vessel Free Gaza from the Port of Larnaca to the port of Gaza
City. Our vessels will be flying the Greek flags, and, as such, fall under the jurisdiction Greece.
We will be sailing from Cypriot waters into international waters, then directly into the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip without entering or nearing Israeli territorial waters.
We will be carrying medical supplies in sealed boxes, as well as crayons, coloring books and toys for children, cleared by customs at the Larnaca International Airport and the Port of Larnaca. We will also be carrying 300 bags of cement delivered directly from the supplier to the Port of Larnaca. There will be passengers and crew on board from 14 different countries. Our boats and cargo will have received security clearance from the Port Authorities in Cyprus before we depart.
As it will be confirmed that neither we, the cargo, any of the boats' contents, nor the boats themselves constitute any threat to the security of Israel or its armed forces, we do not expect any interference with our voyage by Israel's authorities.
On Tuesday, December 30, an Israeli Navy vessel violently, and without warning, attacked our motor vessel Dignity, disabling the vessel and endangering the lives of the 16 civilians on board. This notice serves as clear notification to you of our approach. Any attack on the motor vessels, Spirit of Humanity and/or Free Gaza will be premeditated and any harm inflicted on the people on board will be considered the result of a deliberate attack on unarmed civilians.
A copy of this notification has been sent to the embassies of the civilians who will be on board.
For More Information, Please Contact: Greta Berlin, or Ramzi Kysia, www.FreeGaza.org ###
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Let's hope they have a little courtesy this time. But, just in case, keep your safety equipment at hand. They seem to be getting schitzier all the time.
Best of luck!
Excellent steps!
Hope that all goes well for everyone and thanks for your support of the people of Gaza!!!
Will watching and listening to see what happens…
Viva La Palestine – Free The People Of Gaza!!!
http://ottomanpalestine.blogspot.com/
From Cynthia Mckinney
The State Department has just sent us the notice below. The White House says that cement and medical supplies should get into Gaza and that's exactly what we are attempting to take to Gaza.
Instead of quoting Israel policy to us, the State Department should state U.S. policy to Israel. Therefore, the U.S. should send a message to Israel reiterating the reported White House position that the blockade of Gaza should be eased, that medical supplies and building materials, including cement, should be allowed in, and that Free Gaza boats should be allowed to reach their destination, from Cyprus territorial waters, through international waters, and straight into Gaza territorial waters.
The State Department has chosen to advise us to take the Israeli notification seriously. Our question is, "Can we take President Obama seriously?" Will he stand by his own words and allow us to provide relief for Gaza or will he back down?
Here's the notice from the State Department:
From: Consular, Nicosia
Date: Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 7:58 AM
Subject: The Risks in Your Sailing to Gaza
To: friends@freegaza.org
For Greta Berlin, Ramzi Kysia, and other United States citizens,
Please be aware of the risks involved in your planned sailing from Larnaca to Gaza this morning.
As I am sure you know, the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza that remains in effect. This warning reads in part: “The State Department strongly urges that American citizens refrain from all travel to the Gaza Strip. This recommendation has been in effect since the deadly roadside bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza in October 2003. It applies to all Americans, including journalists and aid workers. American citizens should be aware that as a consequence of a longstanding prohibition on travel by U.S. Government employees into the Gaza Strip, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens there is extremely limited.”
On Monday, June 22, the Israeli Foreign Ministry informed U.S. officials at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv that Israel still considers Gaza an area of conflict and that any Free Gaza boats attempting to sail to the Gaza Strip will “not be permitted” to reach its destination.
I encourage you to take the State Department’s Travel Warning and the Israeli notification seriously.
Sincerely,
Randy Carlino
U.S. Consul
Israel need not explain any of it's action. We are G*d's people! You are less than insects! We shall rule you or annihilate you all.
Awwww lookit the funny lil troll in the #5 box. By the way, a smart mosquito can kill a person. Remember you need to sleep with netting so you don't get a bit and perhaps itch just a lil bit.