ISM: Israeli Navy kidnapped 14 Palestinians, 3 Internationals in Gaza Strip

Tuesday November 18, 2008 17:41 by IMEMC News

The International Solidarity Movement, (ISM) issued a press release in which it indicated that the Israeli naval vessels have kidnapped 14 Palestinian fishermen and 3 international peace activists from the Gaza shore Tuesday morning.

The ISM has reactivated its presence in the Gaza Strip after some of its members managed to enter the Strip with the Free Gaza boats that sailed from Cyprus to the coastal region in a bid to break the siege imposed on Gaza for 17 months.

The ISM had two of its members murdered by the Israeli military in March and April 2003. The two were Rachel Corrie, from the US and Tom Hurnmdal from UK.

Following is a full text of the Press Release

Fourteen Palestinian fishermen and 3 international Human Rights Observers (HRO's) were surrounded by the Israeli Navy and taken from their boats 7 miles off the coast of Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip.

The fishermen and the HRO's were transferred from 3 separate boats to the Israeli warships. Other Palestinian fishermen reported that the 3 boats were seen being taken north by the Israeli Navy.

The Human Rights Observers are Andrew Muncie, a Scottish British citizen, Vittorio Arrigoni, an Italian citizen, and Darlene Wallach, an American citizen. They have been volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) since they entered Gaza on ships with the first Free Gaza Movement voyage on the 23rd August 2008. All internationals have previous experience working with the ISM in the West Bank.

Fellow activists have been unable to establish contact with the HRO's or with the fishermen since they were abducted.

Since their arrival, the ISM volunteers have been regularly accompanying Palestinian fishermen who are regularly attacked by Israeli navy vessels from as little as 3km from shore. They have regularly filmed Israeli forces using live ammunition, shells and water cannons against unarmed fishermen.

When confronted by the Israeli Navy, the boats were 7 nautical miles from the shore of Deir al Balah, well within the fishing limit detailed in the Oslo Accords of 1994.

With regular claims that from the Israeli government that it has 'disengaged' from Gaza, these patrols and attacks from the Israeli navy, regularly occurring from as little as 3 miles from shore, represent a clear signal of the continuation of occupation of Gazan territory as well as regular breaches of the current cease-fire.

[END]

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report news at imemc dot org