Gaza – Saba:
The Gaza Human Rights Group (Hurriya) has issued a stern warning against any Israeli attempt to obstruct the arrival of the "Madeleine" ship to Gaza or to use force against it, holding Israeli authorities fully responsible for the safety of its passengers.
In a statement, Hurriya expressed "great concern" over developments surrounding the ship's approach to Gaza's territorial waters.
It described the Madeleine's mission as a "peaceful humanitarian" effort aimed at breaking the "unjust blockade" on Gaza civilians and delivering a message of international solidarity to those facing "famine and destruction."
The group asserted that Israeli threats to intercept the ship and use force against its civilian crew represent a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law," a "breach of the Geneva Conventions," and a "direct assault on freedom of movement and humanitarian work." Hurriya warned it could constitute a "potential crime against humanity" if the passengers are harmed.
Hurriya called upon the United Nations, the European Union, and international human rights organizations to intervene immediately to ensure the ship's safe passage and to work diligently to end the Gaza blockade.
It also urged the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities to stop the "ongoing massacres in Gaza" and end the policy of "collective punishment and systematic starvation," which it equates to "crimes of genocide."
The group saluted the "free activists in the Madeleine convoy" and praised the emerging "Arab popular movement" exemplified by the "Land Steadfastness Convoy" departing from several Arab countries, seeing it as confirmation that "free peoples refuse silence."
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