Freedom Flotilla (10): Rachel Corrie nearing Gaza

Free Gaza has posted today at their site an article saying that the ship is just 150 miles from Gaza. However:

The passengers on board the ship have stated, “communication is difficult and sometimes impossible and there are many rumors out there started by Israeli authorities, but there is no way we are going to Ashdod. We are, for sure, on our way to Gaza.”

The Malayo-Irish crew includes a Nobel Prize laureate, a Malaysian MP, a former UN Assistant Secretary General, a former Political Secretary to the PM of Malaysia, among other people, including Malaysian journalists.


Huwaida Arraf arrested at Bilin

Huwaida Arraf, chairwoman of Free Gaza, was arrested again by the Israeli authorities while taking part at a weekly nonviolent protest against the wall of shame, reports Free Gaza. Bilin is a Palestinian village strangled by the construction of the Apartheid Wall.


Habeas Corpus petition

Free Gaza attorneys have also issued an habeas corpus petition to the High Court of Israel demanding information about the health and whereabouts of the 54 passengers who were admitted to Israeli hospitals after the raid.

They also sent a letter to Israeli health officers asking them to set up a hotline for the families of the injured and deceased.


Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, which calls to boycott Israel for its apartheid and genocidal policies, in response to the criminal attack against the Freedom Flotilla makes a call to:

• Mobilize for an emergency Global BDS Day of Action on Saturday 5 June 2010 -- the 43rd anniversary of the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem
• Pressure governments to start implementing trade sanctions and arms embargos
• We call specifically on transport and dock workers and unions around the globe to: Refuse to load/offload Israeli ships and airplanes, following the historic example set by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) in Durban in February 2009 and endorsed by the Maritime Union of Australia (Western Australia).