---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Media Releases <media@bdssouthafrica.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 5:23 PM
Subject: S. Africa's Public Prosecutor to investigate Israel's 2010 attack on Gaza aid ship
To: ghulammuhammed3@gmail.com
On the 27th of September 2010, a fact-finding report into the2009 Israeli attacks on the Mavi Marmara aid ship was published by the United Nations. The UN report found that Israeli forces had violated international law during and after their lethal attack on the Mavi Marmara aid ship, the report said: "The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel towards the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. It betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality. Such conduct cannot be justified or condoned on security or any other grounds. It constituted grave violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law." Four months later, in January 2011, Davids together with her legal representative requested the South African Police Services and South Africa's National Director of Public Prosecutions to institute a criminal investigation and prosecute those Israelis responsible for international crimes committed during the attack.
BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS in SOUTH AFRICA (BDS SOUTH AFRICA)
Office 915 | 9th Floor | Khotso House | 62 Marshall Street | Johannesburg
PO Box 2318 | Houghton | 2041 | Johannesburg
T: +27 (0) 11 492 2414 | M: +27 (0) 84 211 9988 | F: +27 (0) 86 650 4836
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BDS South Africa is a registered Non-Profit Organization. NPO NUMBER: 084 306 NPO
BDS South Africa is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A status. PBO NUMBER: 930 037 446
From: Media Releases <media@bdssouthafrica.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 5:23 PM
Subject: S. Africa's Public Prosecutor to investigate Israel's 2010 attack on Gaza aid ship
To: ghulammuhammed3@gmail.com
MEDIA STATEMENT: S. Africa's Public Prosecutor to investigate Israel's 2010 attack on Gaza aid ship
14 November 2012
Today's decision by South Africa's National Directorate of Public Prosecutions to investigate Israel’s 2010 boarding and attack on the Gaza humanitarian aid ship, the Mavi Marmara, has been welcomed by BDS South Africa (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in South Africa) and the Palestine Solidarity Alliance.
The aid ship was en-route from Turkey to the Gaza Strip when it is was boarded in international waters by Israeli commandos resulting in the deaths of 9 humanitarian workers. The aid ship was carrying one South African passenger, Ms Gadija Davids, a Cape Town based journalist.
At a press conference earlier this morning, lawyers representing Ms Davids explained that the South Africa's Priority Crimes Litigation Unit (PCLU), a Division of South Africa's National Director of Public Prosecutions, as well as the South African Police Services (SAPS) has taken a decision to officially investigate as well as communicate the matter to the International Criminal Court.
Today's decision by South Africa's National Directorate of Public Prosecutions to investigate Israel’s 2010 boarding and attack on the Gaza humanitarian aid ship, the Mavi Marmara, has been welcomed by BDS South Africa (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in South Africa) and the Palestine Solidarity Alliance.
The aid ship was en-route from Turkey to the Gaza Strip when it is was boarded in international waters by Israeli commandos resulting in the deaths of 9 humanitarian workers. The aid ship was carrying one South African passenger, Ms Gadija Davids, a Cape Town based journalist.
At a press conference earlier this morning, lawyers representing Ms Davids explained that the South Africa's Priority Crimes Litigation Unit (PCLU), a Division of South Africa's National Director of Public Prosecutions, as well as the South African Police Services (SAPS) has taken a decision to officially investigate as well as communicate the matter to the International Criminal Court.
Attorney
Ziyaad Patel, explained that Ms Davids together with other civilians on
the Mavi Marmara aid ship, were subjected to "inhumane treatment" by
Israel, which is considered a violation of their rights, crimes against
humanity (Schedule 1 of the Rome Statute) and war crimes (Schedule 3 of
the Rome Statute). Davids treatment included being handcuffed with
plastic cable ties, being left to sit in the sun for hours, all whilst
guarded by "balaclava-clad Israeli naval soldiers". Davids was later
incarcerated in an Israeli prison and denied access to South African
consular assistance.
On the 27th of September 2010, a fact-finding report into the2009 Israeli attacks on the Mavi Marmara aid ship was published by the United Nations. The UN report found that Israeli forces had violated international law during and after their lethal attack on the Mavi Marmara aid ship, the report said: "The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel towards the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. It betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality. Such conduct cannot be justified or condoned on security or any other grounds. It constituted grave violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law." Four months later, in January 2011, Davids together with her legal representative requested the South African Police Services and South Africa's National Director of Public Prosecutions to institute a criminal investigation and prosecute those Israelis responsible for international crimes committed during the attack.
Today,
in a letter addressed to Davids' legal representative, South Africa's
Priority Crimes Litigation Unit, a Division of South Africa's National
Directorate of Public Prosecutions, stated that: "After due
consultation with the South African Police Services (SAPS)...we are of
the opinion that reasonable grounds exist for an investigation into this
matter and therefore have opened a case docket...the jurisdictional
requirements contained in the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the
Criminal Court Act 27 of 2002 and our law in general (especially our
criminal procedure) are met".
Ms Davids welcomed today's decision: “[It] instills my faith and credibility in South Africa’s commitment to the protection of human rights".
Davids' legal representative also welcomed the decision: "[It]
enforces the rule of law, respect for human rights and South Africa’s
responsibility in meeting its international obligations. The South
African Police Services and [South Africa's] National Directorate of
Public Prosecutions should therefore be commended and supported for this
decision.”
ISSUED BY MUHAMMED DESAI ON BEHALF OF BDS SOUTH AFRICA AND THE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY ALLIANCE
BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS in SOUTH AFRICA (BDS SOUTH AFRICA)
Office 915 | 9th Floor | Khotso House | 62 Marshall Street | Johannesburg
PO Box 2318 | Houghton | 2041 | Johannesburg
T: +27 (0) 11 492 2414 | M: +27 (0) 84 211 9988 | F: +27 (0) 86 650 4836
W: www.bdssouthafrica.com | E: administrator@bdssouthafrica.
www.facebook.com/
BDS South Africa is a registered Non-Profit Organization. NPO NUMBER: 084 306 NPO
BDS South Africa is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A status. PBO NUMBER: 930 037 446
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