The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on members of Congress to demand that Israel immediately release of a group of Gaza humanitarian flotilla activists, including American citizens, kidnapped in international waters in a “blatant” violation of international law.
Israeli naval forces launched a midnight raid on civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza near the coast of Crete on 30 April, seizing dozens of boats and abducting about 175 activists, according to statements by the Global Sumud Flotilla. The flotilla said at least 15 vessels were seized, while Israel’s Foreign Ministry claimed around 175 activists from more than 20 boats were taken into custody. A separate account from the convoy stated that 21 vessels were captured and others forced to flee into Greek waters.
SEE: Apartheid without borders’: Israel abducts dozens of Gaza flotilla activists in international waters
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“Congress must demand that the Israeli apartheid government immediately release the American citizens and other humanitarian activists it kidnapped in international waters in a blatant violation of international law. Our nation would not tolerate, much less fund, the kidnapping of American citizens in international waters off the coast of Greece by any other state. It is long past time for the out-of-control Netanyahu regime to face consequences of its crimes, including American citizens.”
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com