‘The Israelis hijacked us,’ McKinney says in call from prison

7/3/2009

“Most members of a group of foreign peace activists seized at sea by the Israeli navy remained in custody Friday, three days after their failed attempt to run Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, relatives and supporters said,” the Associated Press reports.

The AP add that “the Free Gaza Movement sent the ship loaded with humanitarian supplies and 21 activists and crew from Cyprus.”

“Because we wouldn’t turn around, the Israelis hijacked us,” former Rep. Cynthia McKinney told WBAIX in a phone call from Ramle jail, near Ben-Gurion airport. “Because we wanted to give crayons to the children of Gaza.”

Along with McKinney, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire is still being held by Israel.

“It is incumbent upon President Obama to stand by his reported policy of easing the Gazan blockade and of allowing building supplies, medical supplies, and school supplies to go through,” McKinney said. “We call upon President Obama to use the highest level of his authority to transmit this message to the Israelis.”

Sandra Law, mother of detained British activist Alex Harrison, and whose daughter is also being held at Ramle jail believes “the planned deportation of the activists may have been delayed by their refusal to sign legal documents in Hebrew, which they do not understand,” the AP adds.

This video is from WBAIX (via YouTube), broadcast July 2, 2009.

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