June 2, 2010
KAIROS condemns the assault and killing of people
aboard the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza
KAIROS joins churches and
concerned people from around world in condemning the assault and killing of
innocent people aboard the humanitarian convoy headed to the Gaza Strip. On May
31st, the Israeli Navy boarded a ship in international waters that was
attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, who have
been under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007. At least 9 civilians were
killed in the subsequent assault. All on board the four ships were arrested and
detained.
KAIROS urges our government to join the international community
in condemning the attack and to support an independent investigation into
Israel's deadly commando raid and an end to the Gaza blockade.
Israel
justified the boarding of the ships in international waters as an act of
self-defence. While Israel has the right to prevent arms from coming into Gaza,
each ship had been searched by Turkish authorities and no weapons had been
found. Organisers of the flotilla maintain they were in constant contact with
the Israeli authorities before the ships set out. This was a humanitarian
mission the intent of which was non-violent.
The Israeli Navy's deadly
raid on the flotilla has awakened a storm of criticism, leading to a growing
call on Israel to lift its years-long blockade of food, medicines and other
basic materials urgently needed by Gaza’s population.
More than 80% of
Palestinians in Gaza rely on humanitarian assistance, according to the UN, with
food aid going to about 1.1 million people, or three quarters of the population.
A coalition of agencies operating in Gaza has called the humanitarian crisis in
the strip the worst since Israel occupied it in the 1967 war. (See a report by
Christian Aid, 'The Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion' <http://www.christianaid.org.uk/Images/gaza-strip-a-humanitarian-implosion.pdf>
)
The Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees, a long-time
Canadian church and KAIROS partner, has managed to keep its office open and
tries to witness to the impact of the blockade. (See a report via Action by
Churches Together, “We are Captive and Slowly Suffocating” <http://www.act-intl.org/news.php?uid=712>
)
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has encouraged people of conscience to draw
the world's attention to the "terrible suffering of Gaza's 1.5 million people,
half of whom are children under the age of 18". The punishment of Gaza's
inhabitants for the election of Hamas has been counterproductive and will not
contribute to the building of long-term peace. According to Archbishop Tutu and
other members of the Elders, a group of eminent global leaders, the siege on
Gaza by Israel “creates unacceptable suffering, in the process empowering
extremists and undermining moderate forces in Gaza.”
We pray for all
those who are affected by the attack, especially the bereaved families, the
suffering people of Gaza, and the three Canadians present with the flotilla.
KAIROS urges those involved with the flotilla to maintain their stance against
violence. We again urge the Canadian government to join the international
community in condemning this assault and in calling for an end to the blockade
of Gaza.
For more information,
contact John Lewis, Program Coordinator for International Human Rights, at
jlewis@kairoscanada.org or 416-463-5312 ext. 224.
Canadian
statements/ resources:
CBC’s As It Happens June 1st interview with
the organizers of the flotilla: http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20100601.shtml
International
statements:
Palestinian Christians urge protest after Israeli assault
on flotilla: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=4122
<http://globalministries.org/news/mee/palestinian-christian-church.html>
Palestinian Christian Church and
Community Leaders Condemn Attack on Gaza Aid Flotilla http://globalministries.org/news/mee/palestinian-christian-church.html
World Council of Churches: Public statement condemning the assault on a Gaza-bound
vessel:
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/statements/statement-on-the-storming-of-a-gaza-bound-vessel.html
Caritas Internationalis statement:
Deaths on humanitarian convoy headed for
Gaza deeply saddening
http://www.caritas.org/newsroom/press_releases/PressRelease01_06_10b.html
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