Category — National AFSC Announcements

AFSC Responds to Attack on Humanitarian Shipment to Gaza

Philadelphia, PA –The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is aggrieved by the deadly Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla, which was carried out in international waters during the early hours of Monday morning. The flotilla was attempting to break the Israel-imposed embargo against the people of Gaza by delivering humanitarian relief and construction materials to Gaza’s blockaded port.

In the words of AFSC staff present in Gaza:  “We are all shocked and feel very sad for those who have been killed and injured having bravely voiced their support to Gazans. We think about their families and children they left behind to join the flotilla. We believe this world could be a better place, but only if we all stand together, support peace and love against oppression and injustice.”

As an international organization that has provided humanitarian relief and education in Gaza for more than 60 years, AFSC views this egregious event as only one symptom of a deadly and ill-conceived policy course.  The embargo on Gaza has led to the death of many of its citizens, whose years of suffering has been largely ignored by the international community, has not resulted in true human security for Israel or the United States, and has not brought closer the hoped for peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people.

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