The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the Israeli occupation’s raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was en route to Gaza carrying humanitarian aid, as an act of piracy meant to sustain its genocide.
Israeli regime forces have reportedly abducted activists, including Greta Thunberg, on board several ships in the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip, after intercepting their boats in international waters, where Israel has no legal jurisdiction. At least six of the ships in the flotilla have reportedly been intercepted by the Israeli Navy.
SEE: Gaza Sumud flotilla live: Israel intercepts ships, detains activists
In a statement, CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“Once again, the Israeli occupation has demonstrated that it will kidnap humanitarian activists and engage in piracy in international waters, all to maintain its lawless blockade of the Palestinian people.
“Every nation that pays lip service to international law should condemn this illegal attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla and take their own steps to forcibly break the siege of Gaza. In the case of western nations that continue to enable Israel’s genocide even as their own citizens risk life and limb to stop it, anti-Palestinian racism and the influence of anti-Palestinian lobby groups clearly explains their ongoing complicity.
“We applaud the participants in the flotilla for their courage, we demand their immediate release, and we urge the international community, including western, Arab and Muslim nations, to take action against the Israeli occupation for its crimes.”
CAIR has previously supported the flotilla and urged Congress to oppose Israeli attacks on it.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Senate Letter Urging Rubio to Protect U.S. Citizens Aboard Gaza Aid Flotilla
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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