Freedom Flotilla Coalition Determined to Deliver Aid directly to Gaza Despite Israeli Threats, Says Bulent Yildirim

Yildirim: We will not give the aid to Israel

[ 29/05/2010 - 08:03 AM ]

ISTANBUL, (PIC)--

Head of the Turkish IHH relief foundation Bulent Yildirim said that the Freedom Flotilla coalition will not give the ship-borne aid to Israel, which is besieging the Gaza Strip, and is determined to deliver it directly to Gaza.

Yildirim made his remarks in response to the Israeli consul in Istanbul who said that Israel would not allow the ships to arrive in Gaza and called on the organizers of the convoy to accept Israel’s proposal and unload the cargo at the port of Ashdod, claiming that the aid would be transported from there to Gaza.

The IHH head told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the delivery of aid to Israel would confer legitimacy on the Israeli occupation and its blockade and stressed that Israel has been starving Gaza people and imposing a tight siege on them for four years.

In the same context, the European campaign to end the siege, a Freedom Flotilla coalition partner, warned that Israel’s threats to hijack the ships and kidnap the passengers would be a premeditated act of piracy.

Spokesman for the campaign Rami Abdo said Friday that the participants in the convoy decided to form a united front and use chains to tie themselves to the ships. They also decided to stage a sit-in at sea and go on a hunger strike if Israel tried to prevent them from reaching Gaza, he added.

He noted that there is no weapon in the possession of anyone aboard the ships and affirmed the destination of the convoy is clear and its declared goal is to break the siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to those in need regardless of Israel’s threats.

For their part, the journalists, cameramen and reporters aboard the Freedom Flotilla ships said in a statement on Friday that any Israeli assault on them would be a serious violation of the freedom of the press guaranteed by international conventions.

“We confirm that we are here to fulfill our professional commitment and to follow up the humanitarian mission of the Freedom Flotilla convoy,” the statement underlined.

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