International Federation
for Human Rights

Israeli assault on the aid flotilla: the challenge of truth, the absurdity of the blockade

The assault by Israeli forces of an international aid convoy bringing humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip has provoked unprecedented indignation of the international community. Both the seriousness of these events and the extent of the outrage they provoked stress the urgent need for an independent, effective and impartial investigation.

The request for an investigation in full compliance with international standards is unanimous among member organisations of FIDH in Israel - ACRI, Adalah, B’Tselem, PCATI and in the Palestinian Territories, Al Haq and PCHR. Some of these organisations, in light of past experience, fear that an investigation being conducted at a national level will not meet the necessary conditions for establishing the truth, therefore, they request that, as of now, the investigation be conducted at an international level.

FIDH strongly conveys its member organisations’ request for truth. The challenge of truth must be addressed, not only in order for victims’ rights to be recognised, to determine responsibilities, to punish those responsible and to prevent the recurrence of such acts; but also because it is a mandatory requirement in order to respond to a justified global outrage.

These tragic events are the consequence of the blockade of the Gaza Strip from receiving humanitarian goods, water, food, and medicines, despite the request of the international community in the UN Security Council Resolution 1860. The international community has the urgent and imperative responsibility to obtain the lifting of the blockade, and the implementation of its decisions on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.