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<h2><b>Cynthia McKinney Reportedly Taken Captive By Israeli
Navy</b></h2><font size=3>
<a href="http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2009/06/30/cynthia-mckinney-reportedly-taken-captive-by-israeli-navy/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2009/06/30/cynthia-mckinney-reportedly-taken-captive-by-israeli-navy/<br>
</a></font><h4><b>June 30th, 2009 by Ronald Hardy
</b></h4><font size=3>The latest from
<a href="http://www.freegaza.org/">www.freegaza.org</a> reports that the
humanitarian vessel Spirit of Humanity has been attacked and boarded by
the Israelis 23 miles off the coast of Gaza. Former US Congresswoman and
Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney is among the 21 human rights
workers taken prisoner off the ship. <br><br>
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<a href="http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/976-israel-attacks-justice-boat-kidnaps-human-rights-workers-confiscates-medicine-toys-and-olive-trees">
[23 miles off the coast of Gaza, 15:30pm]</a> - Today Israeli Occupation
Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF
HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including
Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia
McKinney (see below for a complete list of passengers). The passengers
and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.<br><br>
<dd>“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our
boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to
the Gaza Strip,” said Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. Congresswoman and
presidential candidate. “President Obama just told Israel to let in
humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we
tried to do. We’re asking the international community to demand our
release so we can resume our journey.”<br><br>
<dd>According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report
released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in
despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during
Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter despite
pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow
cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also
notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients
due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.<br><br>
<dd>“The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza,
hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to
transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools,
hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of “Cast
Lead”. Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by
them and that they are not alone” said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire,
winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.<br><br>
<dd>Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza
Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated
that: “No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any
sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies,
and children’s toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate
and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a
security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at
no time did we ever approach Israeli waters.”<br><br>
<dd>Arraf continued, “Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack on our
unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our
immediate and unconditional release.”<br><br>
<dd>For more information contact:<br>
<dd>Greta Berlin (English)<br>
<dd>tel: +357 99 081 767 / friends@freegaza.org This e-mail address is
being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view
it<br><br>
<dd>Caoimhe Butterly (Arabic/English/Spanish):<br>
<dd>tel: +357 99 077 820 / sahara78@hotmail.co.uk This e-mail address is
being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view
it<br>
<dd><a href="http://www.freegaza.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.FreeGaza.org<br><br>
<br><br>
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San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
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