On Monday 31st May, over 40 people protested in Market Square against the Israeli attack on humanitarian aid ships.
Cambridge residents joined global protests against the deaths of an estimated 19 people who were killed after Israeli commandos attacked a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip.
Speaking to The Tab, Katy King, a 3rd year Politics student, said “whatever you think about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip is unacceptable and we need to pressure our government to do more to improve the situation."
Elliot Ross, MPhil student in English at St John's commented: "this protest is a small part of a much larger expression of outrage around the world today. We are saying that the crimes committed by Israeli soldiers in international waters last night, are just the most egregious examples of the atrocities committed daily against the people of Gaza, and the hopelessly bellicose mindset which underpins them.
"It is critical that those who truly believe in justice should make themselves heard."
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Was this the noise I could hear during my exam?
probably….selfish hippy cunts.
Oh Dear! How inconsiderate
And where was the protest over the sinking Korean Sub? surely that must warrant at least a 20 person strong protest? no? not even 10 students who care about anything except bloody Israel and Palestine?
1) The Korean Sub was full of military personeel not civilians
2) Israel atleast claims a western humanitarian outlook and thus people are shocked when something like this happens, with N. Korea its kinda expected.
3) There are far more Jews and Arabs in Cambridge then South and North Koreans, so of course its going to be more bloody relevant
More to the point: 'Israeli attack on humanitarian aid ships' – not true. They were merely boarding, quite reasonably, to ensure that military supplies (rockets, guns, ammunitions) were not being delivered to their enemies. Surely that is allowed? It only became a problem because the single minded and over-excited individuals on the boat (both wild activists and the Israeli military) lost their cool. To take sides in this issue is moronic and fucking unhelpful. Anyone protesting for either side is only serving to worsen the situation and postpone peace.
"Surely that is allowed?"
– No, no it definitely is not allowed. The boat was in international waters, well outside the 'detainment zone' (which in itself is illegal), so it definitely was illegal.
Boyed.
wait … but you just took a side! which would make you …. moronic, amongst other things. as for "peace will happen if we all shut up and don't do anything," yeah …. sounds like a totes logical plan! also, they weren't boarding to check for weapons, but to detain people. kind of different. i think "taking the side" of not committing acts of violence against civilians is a reasonable side to take.
also, we didnt chant, the noise you heard in your exam was those talented kids in that band that busks around cambridge sometimes. and the bank-holiday crowds in the market.
pipe down 'BOB GELDOF' the israelis are cunts, ruthless cunts. Their state should be removed from them, they shouldn't be allowed to govern any land whatsoever
@Pixie Geldof (et al):
The UN Charter on the Law of the Sea says only if a vessel is suspected to be transporting weapons, or weapons of mass destruction, can it be boarded in international waters. Otherwise the permission of the ship's flag carrying nation must be sought.
Furthermore the charter allows for naval blockades, and a ship trying to breach a blockade can be boarded and force may be used to stop it as long as it is "necessary and proportionate".
(Source: BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1020…
Now, what part of that was breached by Israel? Nothing. They boarded a ship which they believed to potentially be carrying weapons which was attempting to breach a naval blockade. Thus, two reasons why boarding the ship was appropriate and legal.
- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has declared the blockade illegal.
- The UN also says that Israel only allows 25% of the amount of aid needed into Palestine.
- What would you be saying had Iran done the same thing?
- The 'weapons' in the ship included knives and slingshots & marbles. Slingshots and marbles. Wow.
Louis,
It's the Convention, not the Charter.
Also, wtf, bringing facts into this debate, that's totally against the spirit of student politics.
Dead link, how convenient.
Was the suspicion reasonable? Was the force necessary and appropriate?
The answer is, yes. No. Err….
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1020…
Article entitled "Witnesses cast doubt on Israel's convoy raid account"
Check the box about a third of the way down entitled "Legality of Convoy Raid"
Some video of the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlDX51lWVfk