France warns nationals not to go with Gaza flotilla

[10/May/2011]

PARIS, May 10 (Saba) -- The French government formally warned nationals on Tuesday not to take part in a humanitarian flotilla operation which plans to break through Israel's maritime blockade of the Palestinian territory next month, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

At least one French-based ship intends to join about 10 other vessels bringing humanitarian supplies to beleaguered Gaza.

In May 2010, Israeli commandos attacked a similar flotilla trying to reach Gaza and killed ten Turkish nationals on one of the vessels and wounded a number of other people.

That attack was widely criticized, not only for the brute force used against unarmed humanitarian workers, but also because it took place in international waters and was tantamount to piracy.

"Because of the safety risks linked with such an undertaking, we are formally warning French nationals not to embark on the vessels that aim to break the maritime blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip," the French Foreign Ministry said.

France feels that humanitarian aid should be channeled to Gaza by land through existing routes set up by the Israeli authorities, the Foreign Ministry said.
Nonetheless, Israel regularly blocks or delays aid to Gaza as a punitive action against the population there.

"Our position on the blockade is well known. We call on the Israeli authorities for a fundamental change in policy relative to Gaza," the French statement said.
Officials here said they wanted to see Israel continue to ease restrictive measures on the Palestinian Territory and authorize "all exports of commercial goods (including towards the West Bank and Israel) and the liberalization of travel conditions for people to and from the Gaza Strip".

France also continues to support the inquiry by the UN Secretary General into the circumstances of last May's attack on the flotilla in order to avoid a repeat occurrence of that event.

An Israeli inquiry into the incident whitewashed the military operation and commandos who took part were not even interviewed by the investigating commission.

Source: Saba Net.
Link: http://www.sabanews.net/en/news241094.htm.