Sinn Fein's MacLochlainn Calls for Prosecution of IDF Commanders

Just noticed this in my email. Sinn Fein calls for International Tribunal for the Prosecution of IDF commanders for inflicting "genocidal" war crimes against the people of Gaza.

Israeli war criminals must be prosecuted-MacLochlainn

Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn, who recently visited Gaza as part of the European Convoy of Hope, has called for the establishment of an International Tribunal for the prosecution of Israeli Army commanders for genocidal war crimes against the Palestinian people after thirty Israeli soldiers exposed outrageous and criminal targeting of civilians in the Gaza strip during Israel’s invasion in December 2008 and January 2009.

Gerry MacLochlainn said, “This isn’t the first time that soldiers have come forward and exposed the outrageous and criminal activities of the Israeli army. Time and again the Israeli army has been exposed for its human rights abuses yet the international community fails to act."

“Today’s report, from thirty of Israel’s own soldiers, highlights the callous and indiscriminate targeting of Palestinian civilians during the invasion of December 2008 and January 2009. This includes commanders urging soldiers to shoot first and worry later about sorting civilians from combatants."

“This must not be allowed to go unchecked. There must be an international inquiry and we need to see prosecutions of the genocidal war criminals entrenched in the Israeli regime. There must be consequences for the actions of the Israeli Government and its army – and these should include the introduction of economic sanctions against Israel.

“Israel’s practice of conscripting recruits and forcing them to serve in occupied Palestinian territories needs to come to an end along with the policy of locking up conscientious objectors who refuse to serve in the army."

“It is vital that the international community must ensure that soldiers involved in the publication of today’s report are protected from reprisals from the Israeli military.”ENDS

Another Witness to Israeli Genocide

Scottish parliamentarians witness Israeli devastation in Gaza
By Hamed Chapman

The convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on Palestine has returned from a mercy trip to Gaza speaking of the horrendous devastation wreaked during Israel’s latest massacre of more than 1,400 Palestinians. “The devastation in Gaza is absolutely shocking. The extent of the destruction of Gaza families and homes is unbelievable,” Labour member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Pauline McNeill said. “Every single person we met pleaded with us to do what we could to lift the Israeli siege on their country,” she said.

The Labour MSP from Glasgow Kelvin led a delegation to Gaza to deliver the first trenche of medical aid from Scotland after spending 14 days of negotiations with Egyptian Authorities to open Rafeh crossing. She also visited Lebanon in the aftermath of Israel’s latest invasion in 2006. “The fact that we have seen some of the devastation on our TV screens is the only thing that prepares you for the entry into the north of Gaza where the Israeli defence forces aimed the majority of their fire power. Thousands of family homes were raised to the ground by the constant bombing,” said McNeill, who is Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture Europe and Constitutional Affairs in the Scottish Parliament.

She told The Muslim News that they spent hours talking to families just sitting in their tents donated by the Rotary Club with nothing to do. “Some of the children were reading their lessons. As you go around speaking everyone joins in as they want you to hear their stories. We saw one family of 8 children in one small tent. There were 90 families in this camp with only 30 tents. There is no sanitation and so they are all at risk of disease,” she said.

The Scottish delegation included members of Glasgow Central Mosque, Sid Khan, Shalim Mohammed and Shamim Ahmed, who helped collect ten of thousands of pounds in an emergency appeal for aid that was largely spent on desperately needed medical supplies. A second aid consignment of Scottish aid led by Denis Rutovitz, Chair of Edinburgh Direct Aid (EDA), also made its way towards Gaza with the assistance of the Egyptian Red Crescent after being flown to Cairo.
McNeill spoke of the scant aid getting through, including basic food or rice and bean arriving, while they were there. “The UNWRA tent across the way is only for show as they get no assistance from UNWRA as the Palestinians do not have refugee status. These Palestinians are internally displaced persons and it is shocking to learn they don’t benefit directly from the international efforts. The Government have given families $5000 but what can you do with that,” she said.

The vivid picture she painted was of temporary shelters being created on the rubble of the destroyed homes. “We were told of a woman who sleeps with her children in her brother’s home but during the day she lives on the streets so as not to intrude on her brother’s life. We were shown pictures of dead children buried under the rubble of the collapsed buildings; pictures of screaming children hurt and burned in the blasts,” the MSP said. “Many injured people do not get the rehabilitation assistance they need as they are short of walking sticks, wheel chairs and any type of basic medical equipment that any health service needs to attend to wounded people.”

“Most people think that Gaza borders are open after the war and that aid is flooding in; it is not. The opening of the crossings is sporadic and the aid is not enough. There is a desperate need for drugs for cancer and heart diseases,” McNeill said. She said the delegation met with Minister of Health, Dr Basem, who said that many countries are donating but not the right kind of aid. “There is no real co-ordination of their needs. He confirms that aid is stockpiling outside Gaza and it is not free flowing. The Siege is as bad as ever – hundreds have died waiting to get out of Gaza to hospitals outside the strip,” she said.

Scottish aid being flown in amounts to some seven tonnes of medicines such as antibiotics, vitamins and food supplements for children and expectant mothers. Other items include sutures, syringes and needles, surgical gloves, dressings and many different types of medical and surgical consumables. Almost all are intended for primary care centres and will be donated to the Palestine Medical Relief Society’s clinics.

“We visited about 6 orphanages where the representatives of Scotland’s largest Mosque, Glasgow Central Mosque, gifted money to the children and the families who helped to look after them. Many would not accept the gift as they said it was enough that we had come and that they wanted to preserve their dignity,” McNeill said. “We had gone to Gaza to show the support for the people and to ensure Scotland was seen as part of the collective efforts.”

McNeill, who has been an MSP since 1997, has been involved in seeking justice for the Palestinians since her student days. She was a strident opponent of the Iraq war and has also spoken out against US and Israeli threats against Iran.

“The siege on Gaza must be lifted. Not a single brick has been replaced after the war.
"No reconstruction work has started. The rubble has not even been cleared. If we forget about Gaza perhaps we may begin to see rocket firing again as that tends to get the world’s attention,” she said.

“Palestinians will tell you themselves that it is a political solution which is needed and not an aid strategy. Whilst we are waiting on that dream we cannot stand for any blockage of the international efforts to bring humanitarian assistance,” said the MSP, who is also helping to coordinate a 100 truck convoy, dubbed the European Convoy of Hope link

GAZA HOPE CONVOY PRESS RELEASE

I just had this emailed to me:

Press Update
Convoy of Hope for Gaza
European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza

Friday 22nd May 2009

On Friday morning the 22nd May, the members of the Hope for Gaza Convoy organised by the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG) are making final preparations in Port Said for the departure of the convoy for Al Areesh and Al Rafah.

The organisers gathered the delegation into groups in order to consult on urgent procedural matters and to review current progress.
There have been numerous delays since the cargo arrived in Alexandria on Saturday last. Since then the organisers have been awaiting the arrival of a ship in Alexandria to take the medicines and medical equipment to Port Said where it will leave by road for the border crossing at Al Rafah.

Parliamentarians and other elected officials from Europe contacted the Foreign Ministry to clarify outstanding matters and to seek assurances of co-operation from the Egyptian authorities.

Convoy Leader, Senator Fernando Rossi, from Italy said:

“The Foreign Ministry have pledged their support for the humanitarian aims of the convoy to relieve the suffering of innocent men, women and children in Gaza.”
“They have assured us that they will facilitate our travel to Al Areesh and Al Rafah and permit the convoy to cross the border into Gaza once the ship arrives in Port Said. The ship has now picked up its cargo and is en route to Port Said”

Deputy leader of the convoy, Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn from Ireland, said:

“There have been a number of delays to the convoy since we arrived and delegates are becoming frustrated and concerned. This is understandable as many have collected and saved considerable sums of money to bring this aid to Gaza and they are keen to see it delivered.

“The news that the ship in on its way to Port Said and that we will soon be on the final leg of our journey to Gaza has been an enormous relief to many people.”
“This medicine and the medical equipment is needed urgently in Gaza and there are people who will die if this material is not delivered. We cannot allow this to happen when these medicines and the medical equipment is so close.

“We are confident that that this will happen with the full co-operation of the authorities here.”

ENDS

PROGRESS for GAZA HOPE CONVOY~#1 Friday 22 May

GREAT NEWS EVERYONE!!

I received a phone call VERY early in the morning, in fact it woke me up but was well worth it. The boat from Libya has arrived, it is at the port in Alexandria right now, just as was promised in yesterdays last update. The boat is now being loaded with the convoy cargo and then will leave immediately for Port Said. Once it arrives in Port Said the cargo then has to go through customs, then it is loaded onto the convoy vehicles. Once through customs and onto the vehicles, the convoy will leave escorted by Egyptian Security forces to Al Arish and on to Rafah. So I believe we are looking at crossing into Gaza tomorrow realistically, with an ever small possibility of very late today, but again I doubt it will happen today and most likely will take place tomorrow.

Everyone is "Over the Moon", now that the boat troubles are over and they are finally looking at getting into Gaza very soon. The Egyptian Authorities have assured the Italian MP Fernando Rossi, and the Irish Sinn Fein Rep Gerry MacLochlainn, that they will allow the medical aid to cross into Gaza. And indeed they let a Dutch convoy member in yesterday who went ahead of the convoy, so good signs by the Egyptians so far. Let's hope they continue to be cooperative.

more when I get it.

HOPE Gaza Convoy #2 Thursday

only one change to report with other news, the Libyan boat did not arrive at 4PM as thought and will now arrive around 3AM Egyptian time. Confirmation was made from the boat's owner that this information is correct and at this time there is no evidence of Egyptian interference.

However, should the boat not have arrived in Alexandria by morning a statement may be issued.

In other news, a Dutch woman, Gretta Duisenberg from Foundation Stop the Occupation, who left the convoy and traveled on to the Rafah border a few days ago has been allowed entry into Gaza today. So, this bodes well for the convoy when it arrives hopefully by Saturday.

more updates tomorrow as news comes through.

Gaza "HOPE" Convoy~#1 Thursday

The boat from Libya is expected to arrive today around 4PM Egypt time in Alexandria, then be loaded with the convoy cargo, then leave for Port Said to arrive there later today. That's it for now folks:)

HOPE GAZA CONVOY~#2 Wed/Thurs

Here is the latest update after tonight's meeting. The Egyptians have now officially confirmed that they will allow the aid convoy into Gaza.

The boat from Libya had a minor delay due to some cargo that had to be removed before it left for Egypt from Libya. The Libyan company confirmed that a crane had broken down whilst unloading that cargo, and that is what caused the minor delay in leaving Libya for Egypt.

The company has confirmed the Libyan boat will now arrive shortly in Alexandria, and is then expected to be in Post Said with the convoy supplies on Friday. At this point the convoy, escorted by the Egyptians, will then leave Port Said by road for Al Arish and then to the Rafah border to enter Palestine. So, the crossing into Gaza should take place at the VERY earliest late Friday, but more realistically on Saturday I think.Convoy members who enter Gaza will remain inside for 4 days

I doubt I will hear anything more tonight as people are tired and it is after midnight in Egypt and it is late here too (Yawn). I will post more updates tomorrow should anything change.

HOPE CONVOY~#1 WEDNESDAY

I have recorded the interview from one of my friends who is the Sinn Fein Representative on the convoy, Clr Gerry MacLochlainn. This interview was done this morning at 9:30 AM Irish time, excellent statement at the 3:20 mark on the video. Minutes before this interview he was contacted by convoy leaders and told there was yet another delay and he addressed this to some degree in the interview below. On a side note, after the interview I received another report and I expect additional updates later today after some meetings take place. Everyone is hoping Egypt will be cooperative and move the convoy forward. If you re-post any of this info, please link back to this site, thank you.

HOPE CONVOY-#2 UPDATE-TUESDAY

Here is the scoop on the Convoy. I’ve just had a nice long chat by phone with one of my friends on the convoy, which is way better than text messages which can be misconstrued.

Here is the deal from beginning to end for today; We all know the boat from Italy arrived in Alexandria some days ago. The problem and delay was/is because the Egyptians have now passed a law taking effect after the George Galloway/Viva Palestina Convoy and it will no longer allow large convoys to travel by road across Egypt to Gaza. So, for the “Hope” convoy, what is required was for the boat from Italy to be off loaded to another boat to then travel to the Port at Said.

So, the biggest delay has been because the other boat, which is coming from Libya, has not arrived yet in Alexandria. It has now been verified that the new boat is currently en route and will arrive in Alexandria shortly, where it will then be loaded and then sailed to Port Said to arrive there on Thursday or Friday, barring no more problems.

At that point the Egyptians will accompany the convoy by road to Al Arish and on to the Rafah border, where it is expected to arrive in Gaza. The earliest arrival would be Thursday late, but most likely Friday or Saturday. Again, barring no more problems.

Additionally, there is a Sinn Fein Politician whom I know on the convoy. I am told he may be giving an interview to a local radio station at 9:30AM tomorrow morning. If it takes place I should be able to get a link to the podcast of that interview if people are interested in hearing it.

Any more news will be posted as I get it. Remember, if you miss a day you can search my tags “hope convoy”

HOPE CONVOY UPDATE~#1 TUESDAY

Apologise for no posting yesterday, I had to attend a meeting out of town, but I did get several text messages from my friends on the convoy.

The boat has still not left Alexandria for Port Said. So far it has been one step forward, two steps backwards. I was told they may not now reach Gaza until Friday or Saturday. I have labeled this post as Update #1 as I do expect another update very soon today and should have some solid information after that.

“HOPE” Convoy Update~Sunday

The minor administrative troubles appear to have now been sorted. Those convoy members in Cairo have begun to travel to Port Said where they will meet up with others on the boat which will dock and off load it’s cargo onto trucks headed for the Rafah border.

The convoy is expected to arrive at Rafah Monday or Tuesday. Any updates will be posted here.

"HOPE" Convoy Update

Really not much to tell about yet. The ship arrived in Alexandria, the cargo will be offloaded onto another ship and moved to Said port where it will be removed and placed onto trucks to be taken to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. There has been a minor Administrative delay and the convoy may not cross into Gaza until Tuesday.

Should anything change I will post it here.

GAZA "HOPE" CONVOY UPDATES

I posted a message on my sidebar, but want to be sure those interested get the message. I have two good friends on this convoy. I have worked it out that both will be sending me updates on a regular (hopefully daily) basis with regards to the progress of the convoy both entering at Rafah border and after the convoy is inside. I have also been promised photos as well. Those interested may wish to check back starting on Friday/Saturday. Tomorrow they are in Alexandria, then on to Rafah border, hopefully to then enter Gaza. To be honest I don't really expect much until Saturday or Sunday, but you never know they may arrive earlier. As soon as I have anything it will be posted here on this blog. If you miss a day just search the tag "hope convoy"