Flotilla volunteer on hunger strike as abducted crew fights for release

Israel accusing 8 remaining volunteer crew of illegal entry into Israel after kidnapping them from international waters

Eight of the twelve international volunteers crewing the Gaza Freedom Flotilla vessel Madleen have appeared today before an ‘Israeli Detention Review Tribunal’ at the notorious Ramleh detention camp. Four others were deported this morning, with Israel falsely claiming they had signed papers admitting to illegally entering the country – a claim one of the four, Greta Thunberg, has denied.

Israel is accusing all twelve of illegally entry into the apartheid colony, despite ramming their ship and abducting them from international waters in the darkness hours of yesterday morning and forcibly transferring them into Israeli territory. Each has also been issued a hundred-year entry ban.

A legal team from the Palestinian Adalah human rights law firm argued that Israel’s seizure of the Madleen, the detention of peaceful volunteers and the obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza all violate international law, emphasising that the blockade on Gaza is an illegal act of collective punishment and breaches provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the genocide case of South Africa vs Israel.

The lawyers further laid out that Israel lacks jurisdiction, as the volunteers were abducted in international waters and called for the immediate release of all detainees, their return to their impounded vessel and the delivery of the ship’s aid cargo to Gaza.

The volunteers told the tribunal they were kidnapped and brought into Israel by force, and reiterated that their mission was to deliver humanitarian aid and challenge the illegal blockade. When questioned about the blockade, they answered that it has no legal basis under international law.

One activist, Brazilian crew member and organiser Thiago Ávila, has been on a hunger and water strike since 4 am on Monday. Others reported poor conditions in detention, including bed bugs and undrinkable tap water.

The Israeli state asked the court to order that the activists remain in custody until deportation. Under Israeli law, those issued deportation orders may be detained for seventy-two hours before forced removal unless they agree to leave earlier. Adalah is demanding their immediate and unconditional release.

A decision from the tribunal is expected shortly. A statement from the Flotilla coalition demands their release:

The seizure, detention, and attempted deportation of the our team are clear violations of international law and Israeli law. They must be released immediately and unconditionally. We will not be silent. The blockade is illegal. Our mission remains: to break the siege and deliver aid to Gaza.

The Madleen is a UK-registered vessel, placing an obligation on the UK government to protect it and its crew. Instead, the government has banned staff from consulting lawyers about the legality of government statements about Israel’s piracy and the Foreign Office is haemorrhaging staff who are leaving in disgust.

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