The Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA) fully condemns the Israeli piracy against the Freedom Flotilla and the assault on civilians in the open sea, and regards this crime as a form of international transgression condemned by international norms and laws. The HRA asserts its reprobation of the UN Security Council's inability to take a clear decision condemning the Israeli aggression, activating international legal instruments for an international investigation and bringing the war criminals responsible to trial as well as working to end the continued impunity of the international community's dealings with Israel. The Arab Association for Human Rights expresses its appreciation and deep regard to all the supporters of the truth, the international solidarity participants of the Freedom Flotilla and holds Israel fully responsible for their safety. The HRA confirms that their arrest by Israel is an abduction that is added to the list of Israeli crimes, following the assault on them in international territorial waters. The HRA asserts that Israel is directly responsible for assuring their safe repatriation. It also regards all the legal proceedings, including their arrest and unfair prosecution, as contrary to all international legal conventions as they were abducted in the open sea while carrying out a humanitarian relief mission, which international law dictates the need to protect and support. The HRA also pays particular attention to the detention of the representatives of the High Follow-up Committee who participated in the Freedom Flotilla, and regards it as a continuation of the State’s security policy with which it deals with the political and social leaders of our community. It also regards the extension of their detention as a form of political retaliation. It is important to remember that the fundamental issue the Freedom Flotilla came for was to lift the blockade on our people in the Gaza Strip who have been besieged for the last four years. This siege constitutes a war crime and a horrendous infringement on human rights and a violation of international conventions and standards. Therefore, the HRA urges all international human rights organizations, official and civil, to continue to persist in order to prosecute the Israeli war criminals, and punish Israel for violating the laws of international navigation and international human rights instruments, in addition to taking a clear position and working to end the unjust siege imposed on our people in Gaza.
2/6/2010