European Left Condemns Gaza Flotilla Attack

The European Left Party condemns in the strongest possible terms the assault carried out by the Israeli government against the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian, international and humanitarian mission that was heading to Gaza to denounce the criminal blockade imposed on the Palestinian people there and to demand the immediate opening of safe humanitarian corridors, in particular for food, water supply and medical aid as demanded by international organizations.

The interception of civilian vessels in international waters – at more than 900 km from Gaza’s coast -constitutes a new act of state piracy, a flagrant violation of international law and a direct aggression against activists, public representatives, humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders who were acting on the basis of an elementary principle: breaking the silence in the face of the crimes suffered by the Palestinian people.
The assault on the Global Sumud Flotilla is not an isolated incident: it forms part of a strategy of intimidation against international solidarity and of criminalisation of those who refuse to accept these policies violating the genocide convention.

The European Left Party demands full guarantees for the physical and legal integrity of all members of the Flotilla, as well as an independent international investigation into this aggressive attack. European governments cannot limit themselves to empty statements while European citizens are attacked for defending international law and for bringing humanitarian aid to a population subjected to hunger, forced displacement and extermination.

The European Union must finally abandon its silence towards the Israeli government’s inhumane policy and therefore reshape its political, economic and military relationship with Israel. Expressing concern is not enough. It is necessary to act immediately, i.e. to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, to impose a comprehensive arms embargo, halt all military and dual use technological cooperation, prohibit trade with illegal settlements, support the investigations of the International Criminal Court and ensure effective sanctions against the political and military leaders responsible for these crimes.