The Right2Know Campaign has joined the call from civil society for the presidency of South Africa to intervene in the Israeli threat to attack the Women’s Boat to Gaza.
The Palestinian Information Centre reported information from the Israeli daily Maariy stating that Israeli naval forces had been instructed to intercept the boat and arrest the activists on board as soon as they reached Gaza’s shores today.
As peaceful protestors and journalists, disrupting an unjust law through civil resistance tactics, we condemn this threat to their safety and their right to protest, as well as the clamp down on reporting and independent critical journalists.
We call on the presidency to take a strong stance to demand the safety of all on board, including South African and Right2Know activist, Leigh-Ann Naidoo.
We commend the strength and bravery of the women on board the boat.
Urgent Joint Press Statement on Israel’s Threat to Attack The Women’s Boat To Gaza
We the undersigned, are aware of the imminent threat of interception by Israel of the Women’s Boat to Gaza – a group of women who are sailing in an attempt to break the illegal Israeli blockade on the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
From past Israeli interceptions the possibility of a violent military attack as was experienced by the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010 is a reality.
It is deplorable that despite the loss of lives resulting from Israel’s unlawful piracy in international waters, the Israeli regime has once again threatened to repeat its criminal conduct. By the same token, it is inexcusable that the United Nations and its Security Council have failed to warn Israel not to proceed with its threat to attack the WBG.
We as signatories are deeply concerned that these peaceful women activists on board the Zaytouna and their non-violent mission to break the illegal Israeli blockade, face such an unprovoked and unwarranted threat. The WBG is a solidarity mission to occupied Gaza and has no intention of entering Israel illegally.
We find it unacceptable that despite these public threats by Israel, and notwithstanding the fact that one of the volunteers on board is a South African citizen, Leigh-Ann Naidoo former Olympian and activist, the Department of International Relations (DIRCO) remains silent.