Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Europeans Demand Israel Release Hostages

"Breaking: Demos, actions in support of kidnapped peace activists across Europe

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Gaza-london, July 2, ( Pal Telegraph) - The European campaign to end the siege on Gaza (ECESG) called today for international human rights organizations and lobbying groups to organize large protests in front of Israeli embassies across Europe in solidarity with activists of Freegaza Movement. Activists onboard the humanitarian boat were kidnapped by Israeli naval forces while they were sailing in a peaceful mission to end the siege. The call aims at creating factual movements on the ground to release "the spirit of humanity" activists

The boat was boarded by highly-profiled people like Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize and a former U.S. congressperson, Cynthia McKinney. The vessel was forcibly take to one of the Israeli seaports under direct threats from Naval boats.

Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize was taken against her will and isolated from the rest of the team. The Israeli army didn't care about neither her old age nor her position. Two activists were released only while the rest are in Israeli detention of Ramalah. The exemplary punishment against the activists is a small glimpse of what's happening to 12 thousand Palestinians in Israeli jails.

ECESG is organizing today a number of protests in various European countries to call on releasing the kidnapped peace activists. Protests would be held in Demnark, Italy, Holland and Sweeden

Sameh Habeeb, spokesman of (ECESG), said that the issue is not only showing solidarity for the activists but also for 1.5 million Palestinians trapped in the Gaza strip with no basics.

According to Habeeb, the way Israel treated the activists show the confusions and fluctuation of Israeli policies towards facing the non-violent resistance actions. The boat was only carrying humanitarian needs, toys for children and small quantities of cement.

"We are going to start mobilizing the mainstream in Europe on popular and official levels. The campaign would form a front of politicians and MPs to release the activists and ending the siege on Gaza".

Ramy Abdu, member of the campaign said that ECESG is working to lobby European MPs to participate in future trips of Freegaza movement. He revealed that some MPs and politicians would be on board of future boats.

He said that contacts are being made at the moment to urge MPs to participate and some of them expressed readiness towards the idea.

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