Activist boats en route to Gaza Strip despite threats to those on board

MIDDLE EAST: THE SS Free Gaza and Liberty are en route to Cyprus and plan to sail to Gaza this week. In spite of delay due to gale-force winds off Greece and Turkey and despite Israeli threats, the 40 activists remain determined to break the Israeli siege of the strip.

The Israeli daily Haaretz reported yesterday the Israeli military favours banning the boats since allowing them to reach Gaza could "create a dangerous precedent".

The article cites Israel's foreign ministry as saying Israel is "within its rights to use force against the seafarers", civilians from 17 countries including Israel. An official stated its navy could intercept the ships when they enter Gaza's territorial waters, divert them to Israel, and arrest and interrogate the activists. One activist said this would amount to "illegal seizure" and "kidnapping".

Those on the ships and in Cyprus have received threatening messages on their mobile phones. Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of former British prime minister Tony Blair, said a dozen voice and text messages have warned that the ships could be "blown up" or "destroyed, killing all on board". Ms Booth revealed there have also been calls to family members, including her husband, who was told that she was in "great danger. These ships will be blown up."

He demanded to know how the man had obtained their home number in France.

In response to the threats, the Free Gaza movement issued a statement saying they are "human rights activists" who have "vowed to take no violent action, in either word or deed, against any other human beings - including against Israeli government and military officials who, apparently, wish us harm". Given the "enormity" of the humanitarian crisis caused by the siege, they said, ". . . we will not be deterred . . . We will sail to Gaza, and this siege will be lifted."

The boat people were commended for their "courage and commitment" by Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times