Gaza aid convoy refuses to deliver package to Gilad Shalit

[oberliner]

A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators sailing toward Gaza with humanitarian supplies on Thursday have refused a request by the father of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit to deliver a package and letter to his son.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/gaza-aid-convoy-refuses-to-deliver-package-to-gilad-shalit-1.292541

Shalit family's offer to back Gaza flotilla declined

Gilad Shalit's family offered to support the international flotilla to Gaza if its participants would demand that Hamas permit various organizations to visit the kidnapped Israeli soldier and allow him to receive packages.

Members of the campaign for Shalit's release said the organizers of the international aid mission to Gaza declined the offer.

Attorney Nick Kaufman, who approached the Free Gaza Movement on behalf of the kidnapped soldier's family, told Ynet that he offered the flotilla's organizers the family's full support provided that "in addition to their demand that Israel lift its blockade they will urge Hamas to allow the soldier to receive letters and food packages from his family and allow international organizations to visit him."

According to Kaufman, he was referred to the movement's legal counsel, who rejected the offer. "I thought this movement supports human rights, as it claims, but according to the reaction it seems that it is only interested in provocation and expressing support for a terror group that doesn't really care about human rights," said the attorney.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3895077,00.html

[NoNothing]

1. Wow

What a bunch of assholes.

[proteus_lives]

2. Not surprising.

These have no interest in helping Israelis or peace.

[Ken Burch]

34. They do so have an interest in peace and justice

They just have no interest in being used to support the silly argument that Shalit matters more than everybody in Gaza.

Look, they should release the guy, but he's just a soldier being held as a P.O.W.. Why should Shalit's status be more important than everything else?

He's no different than any other P.O.W. from any other army from any other country.

[shira]

3. Mask torn off once again. (nt)

[cali]

4. ugh. I support this flotilla

but this is quite ugly.

[shaayecanaan]

5. Does this work in reverse?

If a group supporting Gilad Shalit were to march towards Gaza with the aim of presenting a letter or package addressed to him, should they also bring with them a bag of cement or two or perhaps a water filtration unit to help the poor suffering Gazans? And will they be accused of acting in bad faith if they don't?

Or is this whole equanimity thing only required for Arabs and/or their supporters?

[oberliner]

6. Yes, in fact, that is exactly what has happened

The International Red Cross has attempted (without success) to communicate with Gilad Shalit while also providing relief materials to help the poor suffering Gazas.

Certainly, if the Red Cross attempted to communicate with Gilad Shalit but ignored the suffering of Gazans they would be accused of acting in bad faith.

[sabbat hunter]

7. didn't Hamas say months ago

that they were going to release Shalit?

Do we know if he is still alive?

[shaayecanaan]

9. No

they didnt.

Do we know if he is still alive?

I'd lay a bet at 10:1 odds that he is. Hamas went to extraordinary lengths to capture an Israeli soldier alive. They wouldn't squander all of that effort for nothing.

Having said that, I have no idea why the more rabid supporters of Israel prefer to believe that Shalit is dead. There seems to be a pattern whereby they proclaim that he must be dead because we havent seen a video of him for six months. Then Hamas releases a video or letter and they go away, only to return a few months later and proclaim him dead again. I find it strange.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Your confidence may be misplaced. That state were the others returned in?

[shaayecanaan]

14. Care for a wager?

A bit macabre betting on whether someone is alive or dead, but legitimate nevertheless.

I did offer 10:1 odds, but for the sake of charity perhaps you would be interested in 5:1 odds? If you lose, you pay $20 USD to Medical Aid for Palestine. If I lose I will pay $100 USD to a legitimate charity of your choice. After all, that professor's salary of yours (haha!) should be able to cope with that.

Proof of life (comprising either a letter, photo, audio or video) to appear in the media within one calendar year of today.

[shaayecanaan]

32. Looks like its entered the echo chamber already...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/israelis-take-to-seas-to-avoid-pr-disaster-over-gaza-activist-flotilla/story-e6frg6so-1225872718470

But refusing to allow vinegar, coriander and - until recently - nappies, mops and pasta has allowed critics to argue the blockade is vindictive. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has described Gaza as "an open-air prison".

A report in The Jerusalem Post this year asked: "How does preventing shoes and children's toys from entering Gaza enhance Israel's security?"

Egypt, likewise, manages its border with Gaza with an iron fist.

The flotilla can be accused of vindictiveness of its own - Noam Shalit, the father of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who has been imprisoned for four years, asked them to take a letter and parcel for his son.

Mr Shalit reportedly said if they did this he would support the flotilla - which inside Israel would have been a huge public relations coup.

The flotilla organisers declined the request - a questionable moral and public relations response given that Gilad Shalit's Hamas captors have denied him access to the Red Cross, in breach of international conventions.

[shaayecanaan]

8. Do you think Israel is acting in bad faith?

It is very assertive when it comes to the rights of detained Israelis to receive visits from the Red Cross, which indeed is his inalienable right according to the Geneva Conventions.

When it comes to Red Cross/Red Crescent ambulances being allowed to escort wounded Palestinians or get a pregnant woman to hospital, not so much.

Do you think Israel is acting in good faith when it invokes humanitarian law in some quarters, but not in others?

[Dick Dastardly]

11. Israel allows the IRC to visit Palestinian prisoners

Do mean the ambulances that ferry terrorists or the ones that ferry weapons because those are the only ones they stop permanently.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dick Dastardly]

10. The Free Gaza group claims to be a humanitarian and human rights organization . This refusal proves

what we already know that they are no such thing. They are just a partisan pro Palestian group trying to spread their propaganda.

[azurnoir]

16. or that there re no depths Israel will not go to

to demonize anyone who tries to stymie their Gaza Dietary Plan

[azurnoir]

15. something puzzling about this "shocking" episode

just how was FreeGaza supposed to deliver the package to Shalit?

were they supposed to deliver it personally or what?

was the Shalit family under some delusion that FreeGaza would be allowed access to their son?

or was the package going to be delivered via Hamas?

the former is a pipedream and the latter is a legal minefield

IMO the whole episode is nothing more than a very transparent attempt to generate negative publicity concerning FreeGaza and shame on any and all that tried to capitalize on Shalit's captivity for this sham
the Shalit family would be better advised to to deal with their own government to gain their son's release

[azurnoir]

17. ECESG: Haaretz lies regarding Gilad Shalit

In response to an article published a few minutes ago on Haaretz, regarding handing a letter to Gilad Shalit. European Campaign to End Siege on Gaza (ECESG) expressed its deep shock as Haretz failed to maintain any kind of objectivity.

According to Arafat Madi, spokesperson of ECESG, no one rejected the offer of Noam Shalit to send a letter to solider Gilad Shalit.

Madi told the Palestine Telegraph that ECESG is ready to carry the letter to captive Gilad Shalit. He also added that no one from the organizers were contacted to explore the possibilities of taking that letter.

“We are shocked of the claims published on Haaretz. The newspaper said that Gaza aid convoy refuses to deliver a letter to Gilad Shalit. This is mere Israeli propaganda. We are ready to send this massage or package. In return, we ask Israelis to allow Palestinian families to visit their 8.000 prisoners. We seek a committment from the Israeli goverment to allow Palestinians to send letters too” Said Madi

http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/gaza-strip/6183-ecesg-haaretz-lies-regarding-gilad-shalit

[oberliner]

22. Glad they are ready to send a massage!

Incidentally, Palestinians are allowed to send letters to prisoners.

Perhaps the European Campaign to End Siege on Gaza and the Free Gaza Movement are not entirely in sync.

Monty Python comes to Gaza

Excerpt:

The flotilla, consisting of eight ships in total at our last count, intends to bring badly needed medical equipment, water treatment systems, building materials - and goodwill - to the besieged people of the Gaza Strip.

However, it soon became clear that there was not much goodwill between the various groups making up the flotilla.

The complaint concerned how we had described the activist. We had referred to him as a member of the "Free Gaza Movement".

"I was with the Free Gaza Movement," he explained.

"But now I should be described as a representative of the Free Palestine Movement."

Uh-oh. Free Gaza Movement/Free Palestine Movement?

Judean People's Front/People's Front of Judea?

We appeared to be descending into a moment of comedy, with the different factions vying for credit.

But then the comedy took a sour turn. I was shown another email, sent to our interviewee by a woman belonging to the "Free Gaza Movement", complaining that he appeared to be using their name.

"You do this ONE more time, and we will make sure you never even make it to the next drop off point," the woman fulminates.

"You are nothing but a passenger. That's fine as far as we are concerned, but we will call our contacts at Al Jazeera and embarrass the hell out of you if we see this again."

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2010/05/25/monty-python-comes-gaza

[azurnoir]

27. the last part

NGOs, Listen up! Journalists are not interested in your feuds and your rivalries.

We are interested in the story - which is, I hope we can all agree, Israeli's blockade of Gaza.

It seems tragic and irresponsible that energy and resources are being squandered on petty infighting when they should be directed towards what is supposedly their common goal: helping 1.5 million Palestinians who are living under siege.

her post belies her statement

however there does seem to be a conflict here the OP says a package and the other statements say a letter there is a difference
If indeed it is a package then who exactly would the activists deliver it to?

[oberliner]

28. To whom are the activists planning to deliver the aid?

Whomever they were planning to deliver the aid to could also presumably be the same person/entity that can receive the package.

[azurnoir]

29. would that person or entity have access to Shalit?

that is the sticky part to the beat of my knowledge the only ones with access to Shalit is Hamas and I could just see the headlines

"Gaza activists deliver aide package to Hamas" perhaps complete with photo's of Hamas men eating Mrs Shalits latkes

ok I made that last part up but I could see this as a negative press bonanza either way

[ProgressiveProfessor]

33. I won't bet against that which I wish to be

I want him to be alive, though the track record says otherwise.

There are rumors of proof of life has been received in the past, but the same rumors are saying there has not been any in some time now.

[Ken Burch]

35. Which means this whole story is likely just a load of hasbara.

If the information in that post is in fact accurate, every pro-Israeli poster here now owes the relief convey organizers an apology.

[ConsAreLiars]

18. Seems you are posting more fslse propaganda messaging yet again.

Not sure if you are actually being deceived and manipulated, or playing a more conscious and willing part. I suspect the latter, but you may plead 'gullible but unwitting puppet' as a defense if you wish.

http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/gaza-strip/6183-ecesg-haaretz-lies-regarding-gilad-shalit

[cali]

19. paltelegraph? don't know the source

Haaretz though is a source I do know and have some trust in. Why are you so willing to believe paltelegraph over Haaretz?

[azurnoir]

23. Ah so you so support the the effort to

break the siege of Gaza but are willing to believe any negative press concerning those doing it?

Tell me Cali go you think they were going to deliver this package in person or though Hamas?
As tp Paltelegraph it is a small publication, but I have heard of it before

[cali]

30. lol. you certainly have a mind bogglingly high

quotient of cogdis, az.

YOU will believe anything negative about Israel and er, Jews.

quite amusing, az.

[azurnoir]

31. so you accuse me of antisemitism

how typical of you cali you seem incapable of anything but name calling actually I also posted the article from Paltelegraph it was a retort to the Haaretz article and a very plausible one if you read the thread further and find the ability to use critical thinking

[ConsAreLiars]

37. Ha'aretz is produced in Israel, Palestine Telegraph in Gaza. Different vantage points.

Here's the Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Palestine_Telegraph

Don't believe anything because of the publisher. Every 'to-be-regarded-as reliable-according-to-the-mass-media' publisher in the US has lied about everything when their funders and their nationalist loyalties asked them to. Evaluate the content, not the source.

Edit to add: As you will notice by reading further in this thread the claims made in the Ha'aretz piece were false and the rebuttal in this source was accurate.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tripmann]

21. Why don't we just check in with the accused?

Instead of all this bullcrap. It took me 2 minutes to find this.

http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/56-news/1174-israels-disinformation-campaign-against-the-gaza-freedom-flotilla

"Israel claims that we refused to deliver a letter and package from POW Gilad Shalit's father. This is a blatant lie. We were first contacted by lawyers representing Shalit's family Wednesday evening, just hours before we were set to depart from Greece. Irish Senator Mark Daly (Kerry), one of 35 parliamentarians joining our flotilla, agreed to carry any letter and to attempt to deliver it to Shalit or, if that request was denied, deliver it to officials in the Hamas government. As of this writing, the lawyers have not responded to Sen. Daly, electing instead to attempt to smear us in the Israeli press. We have always called for the release of all political prisoners in this conflict, including the 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners languishing in Israeli jails, among them hundreds of child prisoners."

[oberliner]

24. Is there an official spokesperson for the flotilla?

Is it possible that someone (such as Greta Berlin) refused to deliver the letter/package but now someone else from the movement has expressed a willingness to do so?

Have you read the Monty Python Comes to Gaza article in Al Jazeera?

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2010/05/25/monty-python-comes-gaza

[Tripmann]

25. Just read it now Oberliner, cheers

Quite comical. Hopefully theres a simple explanation if there was any mix up.

I think the main point is that there is a senior member of the flotilla ready and willing to deliver the lerrer, smear or no smear. And this offer has been ignored by the other side in favour of painting the flotilla as something its not.

[oberliner]

26. Perhaps it hasn't been ignored

There may be a response forthcoming. These back-and-forths have been happening pretty quickly.

[Lithos]

36. That is the simplest answer

And the one given the (Flying) Circus that seems to mark much of what happens, the most likely.

Interesting article, thanks!

L-