ITF condemns Israeli attack on aid ship 31 May 2010
The ITF, which represents professional seafarers worldwide, is shocked and appalled by Israeli forces’ attack this morning on the lead ship of a humanitarian aid convoy, the Turkish vessel “Mavi Marmaris”, killing at least ten people.
The ITF holds the Israeli authorities entirely responsible for the provocative storming of the ship, and condemns the harm caused to the civilians on board, who included peace activists and parliamentarians from many different countries.
With the rest of the international trade union movement, including the ITUC, the ITF is calling for a full, open and independent enquiry to establish the details of what took place when Israeli soldiers boarded vessels in the convoy.
The ITF denounces Israel’s blockade of Gaza and calls on the international community to support a political solution in which a viable Palestinian state can play a full part in international trade and commerce, which would include the full restoration of transport links.
“The ITF has been working with Israeli and Palestinian transport unions to improve the situation. We can only see this as a very serious setback” said David Cockroft, ITF
General Secretary
