On Monday, May 18,
around 430 people from over 45 countries were abducted from humanitarian aid boats known as the
Global Sumud Flotilla. Their goal was to
deliver food, medicine, and other supplies while raising awareness about the
starvation and cruelty against 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza - a community that has been under a naval blockade for 19 years. For nearly two decades, severe restrictions have made it extremely difficult for aid workers to access Gaza and provide
life-saving resources.Then, even though their aid boats were out in
international waters off the coast of Cyprus - technically a legally safe zone - all 50 boats were intercepted. The 430 people, including doctors, professors, activists, and family members of prominent international leaders,
were detained. And now, governments and families say these 430 people are
"unaccounted for," as they've been cut off from accessing lawyers, embassies, or loved ones.
Demand the immediate release of these peaceful humanitarians and activists! Sign the petition to demand that the US, UK, and EU join the dozens of countries that are putting pressure on the Israeli government to release the flotilla members!Not only have families had no contact with their loved ones who were abducted, but even governments are having difficulty gaining information.
The Australian government is "urgently seeking" updates on the status of their detained citizens - including even just confirmation that they are safe. Organizations are especially concerned because members of past aid flotillas have alleged
sexual violence, physical abuse, and torture once in Israeli facilities.
The boats were set up with cameras that shared a live feed on the flotilla's website. These cameras show armed soldiers with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intercepting the peaceful aid boats and storming aboard. They
quickly destroyed the boats' cameras, ending the video feed.
However, we know that afterwards, the 430 passengers were "forcibly transported" to Israeli vessels. Once there, the National Security Minister posted
a video in which he mocked the detainees as they knelt on the ground, foreheads pressed to the floor, with their hands bound behind their backs.The video sparked immediate backlash, with governments all over the world denouncing this cruelty and inhumanity. Multiple countries - Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, the Maldives, Pakistan, Spain, and Turkey - came together to release a joint statement. They correctly point out that
these abductions in international waters constitute "blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law". The governments of Italy, Ireland, and South Korea have also spoken out, while Canada, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain all ordered Israeli diplomats to meet with their governments immediately over this mistreatment.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has done none of this. In fact, it had one of the worst possible responses. Instead of speaking out for human dignity and international rule of law,
the U.S. is actually punishing several of the flotilla members. On Tuesday - the day after the abductions - the U.S. Treasury announced it was
imposing sanctions on four of the European activists.
The U.S. government should be ashamed of itself. But luckily, the rest of the world is watching - and is intervening. We must help amplify the work of these brave humanitarians by sharing their stories, and by demanding the immediate and safe release of everyone from the flotilla! Sign the petition to demand the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as the governments of the U.K. and the larger European Union community (EU) speak out!