White House: Gaza flotilla activists may be breaking U.S. law
U.S. State Department says Gaza is run by U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization Hamas and Americans providing support to it are subject to fines and jail.
By Natasha Mozgovaya and The Associated Press Tags: Gaza flotilla Israel US Barack Obama HamasThe Obama administration is stepping up pressure on activists planning to challenge Israel's sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, warning that they will face action from Israeli authorities and that American participants may also be violating U.S. law.
The U.S. State Department said Friday that attempts to break the blockade are "irresponsible and provocative" and that Israel has well-established means of delivering assistance to the Palestinian residents of Gaza. It noted that the territory is run by the militant Hamas group, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization, and that Americans providing support to it are subject to fines and jail.
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Israel Navy forces approach one of six ships of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza on May 31, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
"Groups that seek to break Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza are taking irresponsible and provocative actions that risk the safety of their passengers. Established and efficient mechanisms exist to transfer humanitarian assistance to Gaza. For example, humanitarian assistance can be delivered at the Israeli port of Ashdod, where cargo can be offloaded, inspected, and transported to Gaza," a State Department press release said.
"We urge all those seeking to provide such assistance to the people of Gaza to use these mechanisms, and not to participate in actions like the planned flotilla."
The warning is the third in as many days and follows the announcement by 36 Americans that they will sail aboard a U.S.-flagged vessel in a flotilla to Gaza.
The statement also reiterated the U.S. stance on Hamas, calling the Islamic group "to play a constructive role by renouncing violence, recognizing Israel’s right to exist, and accepting past agreements."
Despite warnings by the State Department, one traveler planning to ignore that advice is celebrated poet and novelist Alice Walker, who intends to join with other European and American activists when they set sail from the ports of some 22 countries.
"Why am I going on the Freedom Flotilla II to Gaza? I ask myself this, even though the answer is: What else would I do?," Walker wrote, explaining her motives in an open letter to CNN and outlining her plan to carry letters to the people of Gaza on board the Audacity of Hope boat. "We will be carrying letters ... expressing solidarity and love," she writes.
Walker's letter goes on to discuss the brave "followers of Gandhi," and the "Jewish civil rights activists" who stood side by side with blacks in the South, and places her current "mission" within this context. She ends with a rebuke to both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies and those in the U.S. that back them.
Meanwhile, the Turkish humanitarian relief foundation IHH has announced that the refurbished Mavi Maramara ship, on which nine activists were killed during an attempt to break Israel's coastal siege on the Gaza Strip in May 2010, will not join the flotilla planned to set sail at the end of the month.
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And all the humanitarian organizations who are providing aid to the Gazans? Does this that my donations to the Red Cross are illegal? How does that affect my charitable tax deductions?
Amazing what lengths the US will go to in rder to protect Israel from itself!
breaking the law of the United States of israel?
once again we see the evil face of the US
Shame on us.
That would be anyone who is an American Citizen who aids, abets or supports any person or group of persons who have been declared terrorists by the United States. Sounds like a jailable offence to me! Book'em Danno!
The Egyptians have opened the Rafah crossing to PEOPLE only, not to GOODS. They are not foolish, and are not willing to take upon themselves the burden of Gaza; they prefer to leave it to Israel. The Gazans are still unable to import raw materials and export finished goods to the outside world. As long as this situation continues, the Gaza economy will remain in a very poor state and the flotilla problem, intended to call attention to the Gaza suffering, will remain. Of course, Israel should lift the economic blockade which has failed to achieve any intended goal. (The original intent was to get the Gazans to overthrow Hamas...) But the military threat from Gaza remains real. The air and sea blockade will have to remain in place. An economic recovery will take the wind out of the sails of future flotillas.
Who breaks US law is decided by US Courts, not by polititians. There is no chance that a US Court will find the flotilla people guilty of supporting Hamas, unless they try to smuggle weapons. The flotillas are launched in support of Gaza residents, not in support of Hamas. What is amazing is that the US still tries to support Israel at this time. What for? Is Israel such a good follower of US policy? Exactly the opposite is true. The US must let Israel understand that acting agaainst US peace policy involves diplomatic COST, not GAIN. Unfortunately, the Obama team is completely devoid of foreign policy smarts.
Of course it is not "the Obama administration" "stepping up pressure on activists". It is the Israeli lobby, yet again, using its influence to try to restrict the liberties of Americans.
We need to find out if the flotilla is bringing aid to Hamas or to the Palestinian people. If to the people, directly, there should be no problem with U.S. law.
The blockade is provocative and the flotilla is a reaction to this policy. then the US and Israel MUST respect INTERNATIONAL LAW and stop their unilateralism
I hope her old ass can swim and I hope her and others are arrested and jailed.Then she can write her poems in prison.
These activists onboard the "Audacity of Hope" have the audacity to violate a nation's sovereignty by running its blockade. The U.S. State Department should be involved to stop U.S. citizens from creating an international incident. The "blockade" of Gaza is legitimate. The reason for this is to prevent the terrorist group, Hamas, from trafficking in weapons that are used to murder innocent lives. If these activists really cares about peace, they should tell the people of Gaza to stop supporting terrorists and find peaceful solutions.