Israeli Pirates kidnap British citizen at gun point
18th November 2008
Israeli Pirates kidnap British citizen at gun point
Gaza City, 10 a.m.18th November 2008 - Andrew Muncie, 34, from Spean Bridge in the Highlands of Scotland has been arrested while accompanying Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
Muncie was taken this morning with fifteen Palestinian fishermen and 2 other international Human Rights Observers (HRO's) when their boats were surrounded by the Israeli Navy 7 miles off the coast of Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, within Palestinian territorial waters.
The fishermen and the HRO's were transferred from 3 separate boats to the Israeli warships. Other Palestinian fishermen reported that the 3 boats were seen being taken north by the Israeli Navy. The 2 other Human Rights Observers taken with Muncie are Darlene Wallach, an American citizen, and Vittorio Arrigoni, an Italian citizen. All 3 have been volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) since they entered Gaza on ships in August. All internationals have previous experience working with the ISM in the West Bank.
Fellow activists have been unable to establish contact with the HRO's or with the fishermen since they were abducted. Since their arrival, the ISM volunteers have been accompanying Palestinian fishermen who are regularly attacked by Israeli navy vessels from as little as 3km from shore. They have regularly filmed Israeli forces using live ammunition, shells and water cannons against unarmed fishermen.
Adam Dean an SPSC spokesman said “This is yet another crime committed by the rogue state of Israel, which has no respect for human rights or international Law. Normally the Israeli Military behave like ruthless murderers, but this time they were just acting like pirates kidnapping peace activists. I wonder what their ransom will be, they have already ethnically cleansed Palestine, what more could they want?”