Attempt to Break Siege of Gaza and Ending Up Abducted and Imprisoned in Israel for a Week

By Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate

Monday, June 29th, 2009

After waiting 4 days in Larnaca, Cyprus, to sail to Gaza, permission was given For only one boat ‘Spirit of Humanity’ to sail.  This meant the Free Gaza Boat, And half of the original passengers, including cargo of cement would have to be Left behind.  Early on Monday 29th 2l passengers, activists, journalists and crew Boarded the board determined to break the siege of Gaza.  We carried humanitarian Aid, toys, medicines, books, 20 small tool kits, 20 olive saplings,  and small bags of cement. (In spite of the millions of aid given by International community, no cement, Reconstruction materials, is being allowed into Gaza by Israel.  This is probably The first time in history that an occupying force has carried out a massacre of an Unarmed civilian population and then refused to allow the International community Aid, and humanitarian workers, access to help  the traumatised people rebuild their lives and infrastructure.  Truly a war crime and crime against humanity being perpetrated (again!) by Israel on the Palestinian people.)

Tuesday – June 30th , 2009- As our boat, was an old ferry and travelled at only  8 knots, it was thought the journey would take 30 hours, as it was with the abduction, it took about 37 hours approx.

At l am. The Israeli Navy made contact.  We were 60 miles due west of Haifa. After asking all the usual questions which Huwaida Arraf answered, and after she told them we were heading for Gaza,  they warned us Gaza was a military zone and we were not allowed to enter, and if we continued they would take all Necessary steps to stop us and responsibility would be on Captain and crew. Next they jammed our navigation equipment and the Captain had to use compass And chart.  They  maintained radio contact for a long time with continuous threats including telling us we had 10 minutes to turn around or they would open fire. Then a patrol boat started shining a high beam spotlight into the wheel house. All of our personal mobiles were not working, and only one main mobile was Working.

6 a.m., Radio communication started with threats to open fire and about an hour later the navigation equipment was back working.  It is to the great credit of the Captain and crew that we were still in International waters, and had not drifted off into Israeli waters.

In the light of dawn we could see military vessels, now 8 large naval vessels, 2 small high speed gun boats, 4 high speed zodiacs and one  F.16 aeroplane. They continued to shadow our small boat until about 3 p.m., in the afternoon .We were 20 miles from Gaza, still in International Waters, when the Zodiacs came swiftly up to our boat, and one of them threw grappling hooks onto our boat and 10 commandoes boarded our boat.  The Israeli commandoes had black masks and were heavily armed, in full commando gear.

Captain Denis was still in the wheelhouse and one of the crew (whom they assaulted).  Four of the men were handcuffed and the Leader of the Delegation, Huwaida Arraf handcuffed and taken off to the Galley.   As we could not see her I asked to be taken to see she was alright.  We were both made to sit on the Floor for many hours in a very dangerous situation as when the boat kept swaying kitchen equipment fell around us, glass breaking at our feet.   Eventually after our protesting (and because I was very seasick) they allowed us to join the others in the main cabin.

They took the boat to Ashdod, where on arrival we were paraded in front of Military cameras and then taken to be searched.  We were arrested for entering Israel without visas.     I received medical IV treatment because I was so badly dehydrated, and my right wrist bandaged as it was badly bruised due to a fall on deck, when our navigation equipment was jammed.   Several other passengers received medical attention.   We were  detained in Ben Gurion Detention Centre,  searched again, and the 8 women put in a cell together.  We later learned that the other Two women passengers , Huwaida Arraf, and Lubna Masarwa, were released.

Wednesday July lst ,  2009 We each got to meet our legal and consular representatives.  (I would like to thank Connor Long from Irish embassy for all his help to myself and my family during this abduction) and also to the Attorneys from Gaby Lasky’s office for their advise and help.  ) Later that morning I was the first to be taken from the cell and the Israelis told me they had a car to take me out and I should identify my luggage and go.  As the FreeGaza group, we had agreed we should all leave together and only when everyone was released and also our possessions returned.  (There was expensive photographic equipment the journalists had removed from them.  Not to mention our free gaza boat!)  I refused saying we had come as a group and I would leave when everyone else had left , and all the equipment confiscated by the Army, was returned.  (Our group was especially worried that the five passengers from Bahrain  would be held indefinitely, and also the Al Jazeera camera man from Yemen, as both their  countries had no diplomatic relations between Israel.    I was threatened, handcuffed and pushed into an armoured vehicle and taken to Givon, Ramle prison.   On arrival, after processing, I was served with a Deportation Order, as were all the others when they Later arrived at the same prison.

I shared a cell with five foreign nationals whose kindness I shall never forget. Each had an incredible story of suffering and flight from their countries because of Violence, poverty, and hopelessness, only to arrive in Israel, with no visas, and find Themselves awaiting deportation (for which they have to pay themselves) back to Where they come from originally.   A few will be allowed to stay but for the most they will be returned to Phillipines, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Russia.  They all wanted to stay in Israel, but if forced out, would go to any country which will take them.   Tragically, there are few countries willing to accept political asylum seekers, or economic refugees, and my week in this Prison reminded me of how desparate is the plight of those with no where to live in peace and security and call home.

Thursday 2nd July, 2009 The rest of my Freegaza friends were in various cells along the block.  (I was Cell One – Prisoner No. 88795) and I was so delighted to meet them again. That day we met with Judge Ruth Greenbergh at a Court hearing on our Deportation.  We all requested our attorney present so the proceedings were Short, and she said she would met with us again.  (We did not meet the Judge again).

Sat. 4th July, 2009 Met Nery Ramati, from Gaby Lasky’s office.  Five women from freegaza group. We heard that the Bahrain group were all deported and on their way home. We agreed deportation order not appropriate for us as we did not wish to come to Israel, but had been abducted at gunpoint and taken by force to Israel.  We will Appeal this, and some of us might stay in Israel to do so.

Sunday 5th July, 2009/ Monday 6th July, 2009. All moved back to Ben Gurion. Our belongings and us taken to Airport to get Searched and then back to detention centre.   The next day (Monday) all of the group Left to fly home (it was decided not to stay to Appeal, but go home and let the Lawyers deal with this).   We heard the Al Jazeera cameramen were already on their way home.

Tuesday 7th July, 2009 Derek Graham and I were the last to leave and flew out from Tel Aviv to Dublin that afternoon.

Dublin:  Reception arranged by IPSC, press conference, media, etc.,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our families, friends, Freegaza Movement, IPSC, Peace People, and all those people at home and around the World for their great support for us during our abduction and kidnapping by the Israeli commandoes and Israeli Government.

Most importantly, I want to thank the people of Gaza.  I am told the children And families had prepared a wonderful reception for us.  Sadly it is they who Suffer, cut off from their families and friends in the West Bank, and wider Human family.  On top of this being deprived of the very basics of life Necessary for human security and survival.  I hope that someday soon the Israeli Government and people will awaken to the truth, that peace does not Comes from militarism, occupation, siege and war.  It only comes from Talking to one enemies and making friends with each other and behaving Justly towards all.   Today, Israel is not acting Justly towards the Gazans, The people of Palestine, so it behoves those of us who care to continue Sailing to Gaza to break the Siege to break the SILENCE.

Mairead Maguire 8th July, 2009 www.freegaza.com   www.peacepeople.com