Adalah to AG: Seizure of Lebanese Ship by Israel Bound for Gaza Violates International Law which Prohibits Prevention of Delivery of Humanitarian Aid to Civilians
On 24 February 2009, Adalah sent a pre-petition to the Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the owners of a Lebanese ship that has been held by Israel since 5 February 2009 demanding that the ship be released immediately. Adalah recently obtained power of attorney from the ship’s owners, Mr. Muhammad al-Humsi and Mr. Muhammad Kilani, to deal with the case.
Adalah stated in the letter that the Israeli navy stormed the ship while it was making its way to Gaza to deliver food, medicine and other essential humanitarian supplies. Among its passengers and crew were religious leaders, human rights activists, lawyers and journalists. After seizing control of the ship, the Israeli navy took it to the port of Ashdod and investigated everyone on board. All of the occupants were later released, with the humanitarian supplies still impounded along with the ship.
Adalah Attorney Fatmeh El-‘Ajou argued in the pre-petition that the seizing of the ship was illegal and in violation of international law, which prohibits the hampering of the supply of humanitarian assistance to civilians who are undergoing a severe humanitarian crisis as a result of war and a siege that has been ongoing for several years.
Ms. Lubna Musawara, an activist from the Free Gaza movement and the National Initiative Committee to Break the Siege who arranged the journey stated that, despite Israel’s attempts to intimidate them, they would continue to organize a convoy of ships to the Gaza Strip until the siege is ended and Gaza’s borders are opened.
