UN Experts: Blocking Global Sumud Flotilla Is An International Law Violation

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) GENEVA, Sept 9 (KUNA) -- A large group of United Nations experts on Monday called on the Israeli occupation to cease all threats against the Global Sumud Flotilla and ensure it proceeds unhindered in its mission to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, stressing that "any attempt to block the flotilla would constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles."
In a statement issued in Geneva, the experts also stressed the obligations of all states under the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.
"States must make clear that they will not tolerate Israeli occupation blocking humanitarian aid to a population facing starvation and genocide. They must press Israel to immediately lift its suffocating blockade and allow aid to be delivered through all crossings into Gaza," they said.
The experts explained that the flotilla is "a consequence of the failure of the international community to end Israeli occupation's unlawful blockade of Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian crisis it has produced."
They added that civil society activists would not be forced to risk their lives at sea if the UN General Assembly or Security Council had taken decisive action to ensure safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
They also voiced deep concern for the safety of the activists regarding recent threats by the Israeli occupation's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who on September 1 reportedly presented a plan to the Israeli cabinet to intercept the flotilla.
They stated that "According to available information, the plan threatens all flotilla participants with prolonged detention in Israeli occupation's Ketziot and Damon prisons under harsh conditions usually reserved for 'security prisoners,' with basic needs and communications denied. It further provides for the confiscation and repurposing of the ships."
"Such measures would be unlawful and would amount to collective punishment, intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders," the experts said, warning that "States must act now or risk complicity in Israel's grave violations of Palestinians' rights."
They recalled that under international law Gaza remains occupied territory and the Israeli occupation's 17-year blockade constitutes collective punishment prohibited under international humanitarian law. "Israel's actions must be seen in the context of an unlawful occupation and the broader assault on the Palestinian people which numerous authoritative bodies have warned may amount to genocide," the experts said.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising more than 50 ships and carrying activists from 44 countries, set sail on August 31 from Barcelona with critical humanitarian supplies including food, medicine and baby formula. A second wave of ships is expected to depart from Tunisia this week, joining vessels from Italy, Greece and elsewhere in the Mediterranean.
The statement was signed by 33 UN experts and mandate holders including Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967; Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; and Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education. (end)
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