Israel To Be Sued By Free Gaza Movement

Gaza - PNN - Human rights lawyer, Audrey Bomse, representing the Free Gaza Movement says members are collecting evidence and testimonies from passengers with plans to sue Israel.

Audrey Bomse has worked in Israel and the Occupied Territories for much of the past 7 years, most recently as coordinator of the United Against Torture Coalition, comprised of 15 Palestinian and Israeli NGOs representing the interests of Palestinian detainees and working to prevent and combat torture.

Plans to file a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice in The Hague against the State of Israel and the officials responsible for the raid of the ships are developing to pressure Israel to return seized personal property including the vessels, computers, and cell-phones. She noted that the Israel Defense Forces soldiers used the activists' credit cards as well.

In addition to personal property, the claim will include the mistreatment of flotilla participants ranging from the killing of 9 civilians to physical injuries of wounded activists.

"We hope that the siege will be lifted. We don’t want to spend our tile on flotillas, but the rights of Gaza's residents are being violated and we have a responsibility, as civilians, to work to change Israel's attitude. If we have the power we can operate in other places in the world as well. We are only fulfilling our duty," stated Professor Vangelis Pissias.

The Gaza flotilla raid was the boarding and seizure of six ships from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in May 2010. The flotilla, organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) was carrying humanitarian aid, including medical supplies and construction materials, destined for the Gaza Strip, and intended to break the Gaza Blockade. Nine activists were killed and more than 40 others were injured during the raid.

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