Cynthia In Happier Times
Former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), alongwith 1977 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Mairead Maguire, is being held by Israel forces at Ashrod after being arrested off the Gaza coast. The supplies were seized by the Israeli Navy.
They were merely trying to deliver aid to the Palestinians. According to McKinney:
Our mission was a peaceful mission, to deliver medical supplies. And our mission was thwarted by the Israelis, the aggressiveness of the Israeli military…
Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip.
The Boat
The saving grace, at the least, according to an Israeli statement:
…Humanitarian goods found aboard to boat will be transferred to the Gaza Strip, subject to authorization…
Now, the propaganda…
Israel continues to make the humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza one of its top priorities. Humanitarian aid is shipped into Gaza regularly through multiple ground crossings and those who wish to transfer humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip can do so through these existing channels. In 2009 alone, the Gaza Strip has received over 300,000 tons of humanitarian supplies. Hundreds of aid trucks enter Gaza daily. In some cases, this has led to a surplus of humanitarian aid, with reports of Gaza civilians selling extra aid they possess.
If Israel were truly making Gaza aid a priority, it would have allowed McKinney and co. to proceed with their mission. They could have seen for themselves how successful and effective these Israeli “humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza” really are.
More from the Israelis…
Once again former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and her fellow travelers have taken it upon themselves to disregard their own safety, as well as the safety of the vessel’s crew, by leading a boat into restricted waters. Ms. McKinney ignored the available and legal means for the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip and instead chose to make a reckless political stunt.
The waters have been restricted by Israel NOT for the benefit of Gazans or the travellers. The blockades are in place to starve Palestinians, purpotedly to force out Hamas.
