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Statement on the legal basis of Global Sumud Flotilla and aid delivery to Gaza
Delivering food and medicine to civilians in need is not only legal under international law — it is a legal and moral obligation under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
Blocking humanitarian aid from reaching a civilian population in a war zone is a war crime. This is not opinion. It is settled international law.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was engaged in a wholly lawful humanitarian mission in international waters when Israeli naval forces intercepted it, seized participants at gunpoint, and subjected them to serious abuse documented by Adalah lawyers on the ground.
Blaming humanitarian volunteers for the abuse they suffered is victim blaming. It is abhorrent and it must stop.
Our people were delivering food and medicine to starving civilians. That is legal. That is human. That is what decent people do. Suggesting they brought this on themselves is not only factually wrong — it is morally disgraceful.
There is no legal justification for what occurred. The question being asked of our participants — why did they put themselves in that situation — is the wrong question. The right question is why Israel is committing war crimes against unarmed civilians delivering food, and why the Australian Government has not condemned it in the strongest possible terms.
We stand with our people. We stand with every survivor. And we demand the Australian Government act.
We call on the Australian Government to:
Condemn Israel for preventing life-saving aid from reaching Gaza
Immediately impose economic and political sanctions on Israel
Stop sending weapons to Israel including all parts, components and dual-use items
Statement by
David Heilpern
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Form curated and managed by the Australian delegation of Global Sumud Flotilla.
Signatories
NSW Council for Civil Liberties
Andrew Harris
Bernadette Zaydan
Cassandra Bennett
Eiad Diyab
Advocate Criminal Lawyers
Greg Barns SC
Hash Palaparthy
NSW Council for Civil Liberties
Harry Maarraoui
Ibrahim El-Harris
Issac Keany
Kheir Lawyers
Jill McMurray
John Adams
John Adams & Associates
Josh Pallas
Kudra Falla-Ricketts
Kirsten Hoffman
Lydia Shelly
Shelly Legal
Madina Mohmood
Majed Kheir
Kheir Lawyers
Melody Plesman-Mackaness
Randev Uppal
Revadhi Dowling
Robert Stary
Stary Lawyers
Stacey Ella
Sucy Varughese
Sue Bowrey
Suzanne O'Toole
Timothy Roberts
President, NSW Council for Civil Liberties
Tracey Carpenter
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