The Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights Joins the Global Fund for Women in denouncing the Israeli atrocities against humanity & calls on Egypt to open the Gaza border crossing at all times to protect the Palestinian people

The Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights condemns the Israeli raid on the Freedom Flotilla that killed 9 civilians and injured 60. The flotilla consisted of 6 ships; two of them were cargo ships. The flotilla was
carrying thousands of tons of aid to Gaza which has been subjected to an Israeli blockade since 2007.

It left from the coast of Cyprus and sailed across international waters to Gaza on 30 May 2010. On Monday morning, Israeli helicopters, 14 warships, and heavy weaponry took the passengers by surprise. The Israeli army used force against civilians, including women and children, from different countries. Thus, the act is a crime against humanity according to Item 7 (Paragraphs 1, 2) from the basic constitution of the International Criminal Court.

Furthermore, it is a continuity of the crimes committed against Palestinians. This crime dates back to three years of the Israeli blockade on Gaza in which women, children, and families have been suffering from the political cowardice of all concerned parties in addition to the international conspiracy to protect the perpetrators of these atrocities.

ECWR calls on the international community to intervene and to investigate the unjustified use of these Israeli forces and the disaster these atrocities caused. ECWR calls on the Security Council and the Arab League to hold an “immediate meeting” to discuss the impacts of the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla so as to provide supporters of the Palestinians with international protection. ECWR calls for Palestinian solidarity and an end to political disputes. It calls for Egypt to open the Gaza border at all times in order to protect the Palestinians.

For more information: www.witnessgaza.com