Israel’s Illegal Interception of the Gaza Aid Flotilla Is an Affront to Human Decency

Israel has just illegally detained hundreds of people, including two of my own constituents, on board the Global Sumud Flotilla. 

Over more than 12 hours last night, dozens of small boats were intercepted in international waters, in direct contravention of international law, by Israeli soldiers. Peaceful humanitarians were deprived of sleep for a second night in a row, sprayed with putrid-smelling ‘skunk water’, menaced by large warships, had bright lights shone in their eyes and eventually were taken from their boats and detained.

On board the flotilla were activists from 44 countries, including elected politicians from Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, and doctors, lawyers and journalists. 13 British people were detained, including teacher Frances Cummings and Novara Media journalist Kieran Andrieu, who are my constituents. Kieran has Palestinian family living in East Jerusalem.

“I joined the flotilla to report on it, because I wanted the world to know it was happening,” Kieran told me, from on board. “But I also took part because I have six siblings living in Palestine under Zionist occupation. Growing up in the UK, I watched from afar as they were shot, imprisoned and terrorised, simply for wanting to live on land that has belonged to our family for generations. And what they experience is still nothing compared to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. I was sick of feeling powerless to help.”

Those on board the flotilla were detained for trying to deliver food, medicine and aid to starving Palestinians. This disgraceful assault is not only an egregious violation of the human rights of those on board. It is an attack on our common human decency. And it is a further denigration of the Palestinian people, who are being starved to death by Israel. 

Many of us have repeatedly warned that this would happen. The flotilla has faced relentless threats, smears and attacks – yet our government has continued to ignore our pleas for intervention. Once again, we call on the government to stop arming Israel, impose widespread sanctions and defend international law.

These were peaceful vessels. The only weapon they have is the weapon of example – and I am in admiration of all those on board. The flotilla is not just carrying aid. It is carrying solidarity. It is carrying hope. It is carrying our shared humanity. When the history books are written, the flotilla will be remembered as a heroic attempt to stop the genocide. 

Make no mistake, their bravery will only inspire more people to join our global movement for peace. We are an unstoppable movement for the people of Palestine – and we are never going away.