Official Notification of Intent to Enter
January 11, 2009
To: The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Fax: 972-3-697-6717
To: The Israeli Navy
To: The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax 972-2-5303367
From: The Free Gaza Movement:This letter serves as a formal notification to you as the Occupying Power and belligerent force in the Gaza Strip that on Monday, January 12 we are navigating the motor vessel, Spirit of Humanity, from the Port of Larnaca to the port of Gaza City. Our vessel will be flying the Greek flag, and, as such, falls under the jurisdiction of Greece.International Solidarity Movement
We will be sailing from Cypriot waters into international waters, then directly into the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip without entering or nearing Israeli territorial waters. We expect to arrive at the Gaza Port on Tuesday, January 13, 2009.
We will be carrying urgently needed medical supplies in sealed boxes, cleared by customs at the Larnaca International Airport and the Port of Larnaca. There will be a total of 30 passengers and crew on board, among them members of various European Parliaments and several physicians. Our boat and cargo will also have received security clearance from the Port Authorities in Cyprus before we depart.
As it will be confirmed that neither we, the cargo, any of the boat’s contents, nor the boat itself constitute any threat to the security of Israel or its armed forces, we do not expect any interference with our voyage by Israel’s authorities.
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Voices from Gaza as Israeli Attacks Continue
Ten year old Reem Abu Fager, whose home is Mashrua Beit Lahia said this morning,ISM/ScoopNZ 12.Jan.09
"We were sleeping when a missile hit our house. My mother's leg was hurt, but we escaped outside. My father told me to take some clothes. My five younger sisters took our school clothes and our school books. When we got outside my father asked me why we did not take more clothes because it is winter. I told him that books are more important. Then another missile hit. We can't get any more of our things."
"The Israeli occupation forces have been dropping leaflets over Gaza. Leaflets that encourage civilians to leave their homes and flee.To where? There is no safe place in Gaza and Gazans cannot cross the borders because of the ongoing Israeli siege. People hope to find shelter, but every place has the same chance of being targeted. The army is getting closer to Al Quds Hospital and nothing can prevent them from striking here."
Vittorio Arrigoni (Italy) – International Solidarity Movement.
"As I speak the Israelis have just dropped another stack of leaflets threatening more attacks. Hundreds and hundreds of houses have been bombed along the border. Where can people go? This coul not be more horrific."
Jenny Linnel (Britain) - International Solidarity Movement.
"We have been assisting the Red Crescent ambulances as they attempt to collect the killed and wounded. So many victims are rom smoke inhalation, a strange chemical smoke which seizes the lungs and air passage, and suffocates the victims. They were the ones we could reach, there are hundreds of calls for help that are let unanswered as the Israelis wil not let the ambulances up there"
Eva Bartlett (Canada) - International Solidarity Movement
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ISM
