Lavinia Moore (SA) writes to Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith re Israel’s breach of international law 4July 2009 July 4, 2009
On Tuesday the 30th of June, Israeli military forces attacked and boarded the ship, the “Spirit of Humanity” and abducted twenty-one human rights workers who came from eleven different countries. They included Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire.
The ship was on its way to Gaza and in international waters when this occurred. The ship was carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza. That aid included items such as desperately needed medical supplies, materials to aid rebuilding of homes and other buildings that had been destroyed during Israel’s attack on Gaza at the beginning of this year, children’s toys and olive trees for planting.
It is very important to note that the ship at no time entered Israeli waters. Israel’s actions therefore are clearly illegal under international law. But they also are an affront to anyone who claims to possess human decency and compassion.
The people of Gaza live in hellish misery. They need aid, assistance and support of the very kind being offered by this ship and the people on it.
I am writing to you to ask you to contact the Israeli government and insist that it immediately releases those activists still being detained, and that it also releases the ship and its cargo of humanitarian aid.
I also request that you make it clear to Israel that such actions are in breach of international laws and that they must not undertake any further actions of this kind.
Further, that if Israel refuses to comply with international law that Australia will approach the appropriate international bodies to have Israel brought to account.
As an Australian citizen, I expect you, as representatives of my country’s government, to not only uphold international law, but to do whatever you can to ensure that other countries do the same.
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