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Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams urges Israel to release Gaza aid pair
Sunday, 5 July 2009
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Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams today called for the release of anti-war campaigner Mairead Maguire from Israeli custody.
The Peace People founder, 65, and former Irish soldier Derek Graham, 40, sailed on a ferry from Cyprus in a bid to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip with a consignment of aid.
Their vessel, The Spirit of Humanity, was stopped 24 miles from shore.
Mr Adams said: "The purpose of their mission is very clear. They were intent on bringing much needed humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza. There is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"The Israeli government need to open the crossings immediately and allow the free flow of aid."
Ms Maguire was the aunt of the three Maguire children who were hit by a getaway car after its driver was shot by a soldier. The deaths prompted a series of marches throughout Northern Ireland and further afield demanding an end to the violence in 1976.
Irish Justice Minister Micheal Martin has also called for the freeing of the detained pair by Israel.
They are being held in prison in Tel Aviv along with former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
Mr Adams added: "I call on the Irish government and on other EU states to demand the release of Irish and other citizens illegally arrested in international waters, that the confiscated humanitarian aid on board, which had been cleared by the customs of another EU country, Cyprus, be returned and that the boat be released and allowed proceed on its way."
Mr Martin has repeated calls for border crossings and trade links to be reopened. They were effectively shut down by Israeli authorities after the military offensive in Gaza in December and January.
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South African Aparthied government was no where near as EVIL as the Israeli murdering knesset. Notice how the media and governments do not sanction and pressure the illegal state? Is it maybe because they are financed by people who have a common interest in israel blood wise and spritually?
Posted by Rothvitz Sugar | 08.07.09, 10:47 GMT
British citizens have been released, not Irish, and sailing on international water to develop humanitarian help is not a crime, in fact, the crime is to not allow them to pass, especially for a foreign country as Israel who is committing the most horrendus crimes against humanity. For TWO YEARS Gaza is surviving the most genocidal blockade; and nobody has the right to kidnapp one person in international waters, put her in a prison, uncommunicated, and forced to sign a paper.
Posted by maria, spain | 06.07.09, 16:09 GMT
Ralph, the boat was in international waters when it was boarded by the Israeli military. This translates to an act of piracy by the Israeli government.
I would also question why the Israeli government is so threatened by a group bringing crayons and medical supplies to the Gaza strip. Israel must know it has lost the propaganda battle over what is essentially an open air prison. Collective punishment is a crime under international law after all.
Posted by William | 06.07.09, 13:08 GMT
Everywhere in the world if one commits an illegal act it is punished.
Why should it be differently with those people ?
They tried to enter DELIBERATELY and ILLEGALLY into a foreign country. In my opinion this people and everyone trying to do the same should be punished much more severely.
Ralph
Posted by ralph | 06.07.09, 08:21 GMT
Adams is partisan in the situation and may be the wrong person to persuade Israel to release Mairead. It is quite possible that she may not appreciate this sort of help. There is no shortage of UN humanitarian aid in Gaza -merely an absence of honest brokers to distribute it. My latest information is that she is being released.
Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 05.07.09, 21:11 GMT