The international community, including the ANC-led government, must step in to prevent Israel from carrying out such crimes against humanity, crimes which it frequently commits with complete impunity.

Amandla.mobi slams interception of the Women’s Boat to Gaza and calls for the release of the women on board, including South African Leigh-Ann Naidoo.

Community organisation is aware of the interception by Israel of the Women’s Boat to Gaza (WBG), a group of women who are sailing in an attempt to break the illegal Israeli blockade on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. 

“We find it unacceptable that despite these public threats by Israel, and notwithstanding the fact that one of the volunteers on board is a South African citizen, Leigh-Ann Naidoo former Olympian and activist, the Department of International Relations (DIRCO) remains silent” said Koketso Moeti, amandla.mobi executive director. 

Both organisations and individuals are calling on the international community, including the ANC-led government, to ask for a guarantee of safe passage home, and to take a stand against Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza. The Zaytouna was traveling in international waters and in a legal, peaceful manner without threat, contraband or weapons. 

Moeti urges the SA Presidency to urgently take steps to ensure the safety of all the women on this mission, including Leigh-Ann Naidoo. It is imperative for the SA government to provide the necessary protection for its citizen.

According to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), the boat was commandeered without violence or any resistance from the 13 activists onboard. It is deplorable that despite the loss of lives resulting from Israel’s unlawful piracy in international waters, the Israeli regime has once again repeated its criminal conduct. By the same token, it is inexcusable that the United Nations and its Security Council have failed to warn Israel not to proceed with its threat to attack the WBG.

“We therefore call on the SA Presidency to urgently take steps to ensure the safety of all the women on this mission, including Leigh-Ann Naidoo. It is imperative for the SA government to provide the necessary protection for its citizen” concludes Moeti. 

The international community, including the ANC-led government, must step in to prevent Israel from carrying out such crimes against humanity, crimes which it frequently commits with complete impunity.

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For more information and interviews, contact:

Koketso Moeti

082 583 5869 / [email protected]