LONDON: The UK’s recognition of Palestine is “worthless” if London does not act to stop Israeli aggression against its citizens, a British man aboard a flotilla trying to breach the blockade of Gaza has warned.
Louie-Joe Findlater, 33, is traveling as part of the 52-boat Global Sumud Flotilla taking aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave.
The flotilla has come under pressure from signal jamming and drones, which the GSF said “launched explosives and gases on boats.”
Findlater called on the UK to take concrete steps to pressure Israel, including taking “solid actions like sanctions, like expelling ambassadors and diplomats.”
He added that British citizens taking part in the flotilla do not “feel protected in the slightest” by London’s lack of response.
Findlater told the PA news agency: “We’re making all the best decisions we can, but ultimately, we’re a boat floating at sea and we need the protection of our governments to guarantee that we’re going to stay safe.”
He said they were “under attack,” he had witnessed “enormous flashes, explosions and loud bangs,” and “recognition (of Palestine) alone is worthless if they (the UK government) don’t actually take action to protect their citizens … when they’re on a humanitarian aid mission through international waters, legal by all international law.”
He added: “We need to make sure we can get that aid to Gaza, and if they really do recognise Palestine, they should recognise our right to do so and the right of the Palestinians to receive that … We are obviously very concerned about our security.”
The activity against the GSF has prompted international condemnation, with Findlater’s local MP Neil Duncan-Jordan urging the UK government to step in on behalf of Britons on the flotilla.
He wrote in a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper that he is “deeply alarmed by the increasingly concerning rhetoric from the Israeli Foreign Ministry towards the Freedom Flotilla, a group of boats delivering vital humanitarian aid to Gaza,” adding: “I request that you set out how the United Kingdom will uphold the human rights of the humanitarian volunteers within the Freedom Flotilla. Louie must be allowed to deliver aid without obstruction.”
Other nations with citizens aboard the flotilla have been stronger in their stance. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Rome has deployed a frigate to the area the flotilla is currently in, off the coast of the Greek island of Crete, “for possible rescue operations,” adding: “In a democracy, demonstrations and forms of protest must also be protected when they are carried out in accordance with international law and without resorting to violence.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said international law needs to be upheld and “the right of our citizens to navigate the Mediterranean safely be respected.”
