IDF attack on Malaysian aid ship – Letter from Malaysia

 Letter dated 8 June 2011 from the Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General 

 The Perdana Global Peace Foundation, a Malaysian-based non-governmental organization, had organized a humanitarian mission to deliver UPVC (plastic) pipes to help restore the devastated sewerage system in Gaza. The vessel, which left the port of Piraeus, Greece, on 11 May 2011, is manned with seven Malaysians, two Irishmen, two Indians and one Canadian. 

 The humanitarian aid vessel, the Spirit of Rachel Corrie (registered as MV Finch), was attacked by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on 16 May 2011, when it reached the Palestinian territorial waters at about 5.45 a.m. local time. The vessel has since re-routed to Egyptian waters and anchored off the port of Al-Arish after being attacked by IDF. 

 This attack by IDF is clearly in violation of international laws, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council, in its resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009, considers the imposition of the Israeli blockade as illegal, as it affects the lives of Palestinian civilians and it impedes the sustained and regular movement of persons and goods, including the import of items necessary for the reconstruction of basic facilities. The claim by Israel in the letter of the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council (S/2011/322) that MV Finch violated the naval blockade is unjustifiable, as the blockade has been deemed illegal by the Security Council. Therefore, it is absurd that Israel is trying to justify its blockade to the very body that has classified it as illegal. 

 I would be grateful if this letter could be issued as a document of the Security Council. 

___________