The following letter was sent to the Labor government and all MPs on May 9.
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Article 87 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea explicitly codifies the Right to Freedom of Navigation on the high seas — international marine waters outside the jurisdiction of any country.
Israel’s interception of vessels taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters; its destruction, damage and seizure of vessels; and its detention, abuse and torture of participants, including Australian citizens, is a clear act of piracy.
The Australian government’s response, or rather the lack of it, is a dereliction of duty.
Foreign minister Penny Wong’s pathetic prevarication that “it is difficult to help civilians in a war zone”, completely ignores the fact that Israel committed these crimes far from any war zone.
This rogue state intercepted the flotilla in international waters off the western coast of Crete. To be precise, more than 600 nautical miles from Gaza’s territorial waters, which Israel unlawfully declared a no-go-zone as part of its 19-year-long unlawful siege.
Pictures of the kidnapped and abused humanitarians, who were dumped by their Israeli captors on Crete’s beaches, showed signs of severe beating. Australians Ethan Floyd and Zack Schofield ended up in hospital, yet neither Wong nor Albanese uttered a word.
They did not approach the men’s anxious families, nor did they return their calls. When other citizens call the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT), they can’t even leave a message, but are fobbed off to the minister’s website.
In a generic letter to concerned constituents, the Labor government urges Australians “not to attempt to breach the Israeli naval blockade by joining flotillas”. It maintains that “aid is best delivered through established and coordinated channels”, knowing full well that Israel is letting through only a token trickle.
It also washes its hands of any responsibility beyond consular assistance for Australian participants by saying that “DFAT strongly encouraged them not to participate”.
Labor should be reminded that the International Court of Justice ruled it is the obligation of all states and all people to do their utmost to act to prevent the genocide.
Israeli news media outlets (Ynet and Ma’ariv) report claims by the Foreign Office that the flotilla is “headed by Hamas”. Both Wong and Albanese would know that this is simply a rerun of Israel’s pretext for bombing every hospital and school in Gaza. The fact that Israel singled out two activists from “countries hostile to Israel” (Spanish-Palestinian Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Ávila) for “questioning” in Israel gives the game away. We all know what that means.
A communiqué issued by the Global Sumud Flotilla notes that “participant eyewitnesses provided harrowing testimony of Abu Keshek’s screams echoing throughout the ship as he was subjected to systematic torture, after being separated from the others”.
From the moment of his capture, Abu Keshek was blindfolded and forced to lie on his stomach, causing “bruising to his face and hands”.
Ávila was “dragged face-down across the floor” and lost consciousness twice due to the severity of his beatings. In court, both men’s faces were bruised and Ávila “had trouble lifting his right hand”.
The Labor government’s craven silence is consistent with its record. Minister Wong has also remained silent about Israel’s serial violations of the ceasefire in Gaza. No public condemnation has come from her lips. Not about Israel’s blocking of aid trucks, not about Israel’s killing of at least 828 Gazans since the ceasefire, and not about Israel’s military occupation and bulldozing of 59% of the Gaza strip.
This continuous inaction and silence of our and other governments around the world is giving Israel carte blanche again and again.
The civilians on the Sumud Flotilla represent a fast growing community of international citizens who are shocked, sickened frustrated and infuriated by their governments’ wilful silence and inaction and by Israel’s impunity.
Gaza is still under siege. People are still starving, being bombed, burned, bulldozed and eradicated.
The G-word is still taboo in Canberra, yet genocide is the reality on the ground in the Levant. When governments fail to do what they should by international law, namely prevent and stop Israel’s genocide, siege, apartheid and occupation, then civilians who uphold justice and international human rights will take matters in their own hands by taking active responsibility.
They are the true moral compass of our time.
Israel has declared it “will not allow the breaking of the legal [sic] naval blockade” and is now threatening its action against the remaining flotilla boats will be lethal. There are still Australians, including a member of Jews Against the Occupation ’48, sailing with the flotilla.
Their safety is at risk and they are entitled to the support of their own country. We encourage you to set aside the dictates of the global war machine, overcome your fear of the bully of the Levant, stand up for the rights of the Palestinian people and protect the Global Sumud Flotilla, including your own citizens, with all your might.
It is imperative that the Australian government:
• Condemn Israel’s blatant breach of international maritime law;
• Demand the safety of all Sumud Flotilla participants;
• Exert uncompromising diplomatic pressure on Israel to release all hostages; and
• Demand free passage to Gaza for all Flotilla vessels still heading to Gaza.
It is time for the Australian government to follow the shining light of the ordinary yet extra-ordinary people sailing with the Global Sumud Flotilla and show some much-needed backbone in defending Palestinian human rights and international law.