Israel Murders Human Rights Workers Delivering Humanitarian Aid

Published on Monday, May 31, 2010 by CommmonDreams.org

by Marjorie Cohn

On Sunday, Israel murdered human rights workers who were attempting to
deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, because Gaza
has been virtually cut off from the outside world by Israel. At least 19
people were reportedly killed and dozens injured when Israeli troops boarded
the 6-ship Freedom Flotilla convoy in international waters and immediately
fired live ammunition at the people on board the ships. The convoy was
comprised of 700 people from 50 nationalities and included a Nobel laureate,
members of parliament from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Turkey and Malaysia, as
well as Palestinian members of the Israeli Knesset and a Holocaust survivor.

Israel’s armed attack on these human rights workers constitutes a clear
breach of international law. The human rights workers should be released
immediately, medical treatment should be provided for the wounded, and all
humanitarian aid materials should be immediately transferred to Gaza.

Human rights organizations and bar associations, including the International
Association of Democratic Lawyers, the National Lawyers Guild, the
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, MADRE, the European Association
of Lawyers for Democracy, World Human Rights, the Palestinian Center for
Human Rights, and the governments of Britain, France, Germany and Turkey
have condemned the Israeli assault. The U.S. government, has not yet spoken
out in opposition to the assault by Israel, the largest recipient of U.S.
aid since World War II.

There should be an international investigation of crimes committed during
and after Israel’s armed attack on the Freedom Flotilla and prosecution of
all Israeli officials and soldiers responsible.

Israel must end its illegal blockade of Gaza, which constitutes unlawful
aggression under General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974). When the Security
Council convenes, it should order Israel to cease its acts of aggression.

Marjorie Cohn, a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and past
President of the National Lawyers Guild, is the deputy secretary general for
external communications of the International Association of Democratic
Lawyers, and the U.S. representative to the executive committee of the
American Association of Jurists..  She is the author of *Cowboy Republic:
Six Ways the Bush Gang Has Defied the
Law<https://www.amazon.com/dp/0977825337?tag=commondreams-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0977825337&adid=181KV0M5EQZRKYZJCEXK&>
*and co-author of *Rules of Disengagement: The Politics and Honor of
Military Dissent*<https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981576923?tag=commondreams-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0981576923&adid=0PD6RVM68MJWK4SSM0CX&>
(with
Kathleen Gilberd).  Her anthology, *The United States and Torture:
Interrogation, Incarceration and Abuse,* will be published in 2010 by NYU
Press. Her articles are archived at www.marjoriecohn.com