The Free Gaza Boats under electronic pirates attack

Saturday August 23, 2008 12:36 by George Rishmawi - IMEMC News

The SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty boats sailing from Cyprus reported that their electronic safety systems came under electronic attack causing them to jam.

SS Liberty, one of the Boats heading to the Gaza Strip (Photo: Free Gaza Movement)

Below is an communiqué released by the Free Gaza Movement, the organizer of the boats’ trip.

At 10am this morning, the Cyprus team of the Free Gaza Movement was able to briefly speak with our people on board the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty. They are all fine, and they asked us to release the following statement:

"The electronic systems which guarantee our safety aboard the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty have been jammed and scrambled. Both ships are flying Greek flags, and are in international waters. We are the victims of electronic piracy. We are currently in GMS P area A2 and we are relying on our satellite communications equipment to make a distress call, if needed.

We are civilians from 17 nations and are on this project to break the siege of Gaza. We are not experienced sailors. As a result, there is concern about the health and safety of the people on board such an emergency develop.

We are currently experiencing rough sea conditions, and we call on the Greek government and the international community to meet their responsibilities and protect the civilians on board our two ships in international waters."

The two boats are carrying peace activists on their way to the Gaza Strip to defy the siege, Israel imposed on the Gaza Strip for over one year, which caused a devastating damage to the social, economic and political life the coastal region. At least 240 Palestinian patients died as they were unable to received the needed medical treatment in the Gaza Strip and were unable to travel outside Gaza for medication.

international | non-violent action | news report george at imemc dot org