A United Nations human rights expert has urged Israel to ensure the safety and fundamental rights of all individuals aboard the Conscience and other vessels of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition(FFC) intercepted in international waters on Wednesday morning.
Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, said the attack on unarmed civilians in international waters represented “yet another violation of international law by Israel.”
The flotilla, sailing toward Gaza to break Israel’s blockade, was reportedly intercepted by an Israeli military helicopter before naval forces boarded the ships. The Conscience, the flagship vessel, carried 92 passengers, including journalists, healthcare professionals, and human rights defenders. Sixteen international journalists from 10 countries were among those detained and taken to Ashdod port. Bangladeshi photographer and human rights activist Dr Shahidul Alam was participant of Conscience vessel, reports UN and agencies.
Khan expressed grave concern for the safety of the detainees, citing reports from Global Sumud Flotilla activists of mistreatment during Israeli detention. She said Israel must guarantee access to healthcare, protection from torture or ill-treatment, and immediate access to lawyers and consular services.
“These individuals are being arbitrarily detained for exercising their legitimate rights,” Khan said, adding that the flotilla’s passengers acted in peaceful solidarity with the people of Gaza.
The UN expert said the mission’s journalists had sought to challenge Israel’s total ban on foreign media access to Gaza. “The international community must demand Israel allow immediate and free entry for journalists into the besieged enclave and ensure their safety,” she said.
Khan noted that more than 252 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the Gaza war began, many of whom were “deliberately targeted to silence their reporting of war crimes.”
She said the detained journalists and activists “were standing up for the right to information and solidarity with those under siege.” Israel, she added, “has an obligation to respect those rights and the principles of international law.”
