Write to the FCDO: protect the Global Sumud Flotilla

The Global Sumud Flotilla is a fleet of boats carrying civilians: journalists, doctors, artists, clergy, lawyers and seafarers, all joined together with a commitment to nonviolent action to end Israel's siege on Gaza and genocide against the Palestinian people. The British government has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Genocide Convention, so ordinary people have organised to sail with the Global Sumud Flotilla in an attempt to break Israel’s illegal siege and deliver the aid that Israel refuses to allow in.

As the boats approach the Gaza shore, Israel has begun to make comments smearing those participating and harrass the boat with drones. The British government must urgently step up to protect the ships and those onboard, and support their mission to deliver aid to the people of Gaza.

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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW231143017 BCX0"><p class="Paragraph SCXW231143017 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW231143017 BCX0">Dear Foreign Secretary,</span><span class="EOP SCXW231143017 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p></div><div class="SCXW231143017 BCX0"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW231143017 BCX0"><p class="MsoNormal">I am writing to express my alarm at Israel’s threats against the humanitarian aid boats sailing to the Gaza coast as a part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, and to urge the government to take action to protect the ships and those onboard, and to support their mission to deliver aid to the people of Gaza.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Global Sumud Flotilla is a fleet of boats carrying civilians: journalists, doctors, artists, clergy, lawyers and seafarers, all joined together with a commitment to nonviolent action to break Israel’s illegal siege and to deliver much-needed aid to the Palestinian people. At least 13 British nationals are onboard the boats.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Two of the boats in the fleet, Sirius and Alma, are British-flagged boats. The British government has a legal duty to defend its ships and the civilians on board, and to prevent unlawful interference—including any threat or use of force—by foreign powers such as Israel. Any attack or interference with the ships would constitute a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an affront to British sovereignty, and a breach of international humanitarian law.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Israel’s illegal siege on the Gaza Strip and its apartheid control over the Palestinian people laid the groundwork for Israel’s horrific attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past two years, which have resulted in over 65,000 Palestinians killed, nearly 200,000 injured, complete devastation of civilian infrastructure and an intentionally engineered famine. Earlier this month, the UN Commission of Inquiry concluded what many have already known—that Israel is inflicting a genocide on the Palestinian people. Signatories of the Genocide Convention, including Britain, have the obligation to prevent further acts of genocide and punish those responsible.</p><p class="MsoNormal">As the British government has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Genocide Convention, ordinary people have organised to sail with the Global Sumud Flotilla in an attempt to break Israel’s illegal siege and deliver the aid that Israel refuses to allow in.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Israel is clearly emboldened by the impunity lent by the British government’s failure to hold it to account, and continued support for Israel, including through the arms trade. In the past days, Israel has begun to label the approaching flotilla as ‘terrorists’, which may be a signal that Israel intends to attack and harm those aboard. It has also begun to harass the fleet with drones. </p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m urging you to take action now. Please call on relevant government officials to:</p><ul><li class="MsoNormal">Issue a public warning to Israel that any action against the Global Sumud Flotilla boats is unlawful.</li><li class="MsoNormal">Act to protect the rights and safety of those aboard.</li><li class="MsoNormal">Reject the legitimacy of Israel’s blockade and actively support efforts to deliver humanitarian aid.</li><li class="MsoNormal"><span data-teams="true">Abide by all Britain's obligations under the Genocide Convention by ending all arms trade and military collaboration with Israel.</span></li></ul></div></div>

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Write to the FCDO: protect the Global Sumud Flotilla