GENEVA – United Nations experts* today urged Israel to cease all threats of harm against the Global Sumud Flotilla and ensure it proceeds unhindered in its mission to deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza.

“Any attempt to block the flotilla would constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles,” the experts said.

They stressed that the flotilla is a consequence of the failure of the international community to end Israel’s unlawful blockade of Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian crisis it has produced. “Civil society activists would not be compelled to risk their lives at sea if the General Assembly or Security Council had taken decisive action to ensure safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” the experts said.

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*The experts:

– Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967

– Pedro Arrojo Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation

– Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food

– Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education

– George Katrougalos, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

– Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons

– Heba Hagrass, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities

– Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing

– Bina D‘Costa (Chair), Barbara G. Reynolds, Isabelle Mamadou, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

– Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on minority issues

– Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association;

– Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children

– Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences

– Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change

– Bina D‘Costa (Chair), Barbara G. Reynolds, Isabelle Mamadou, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

– Carlos Duarte (Chair), Shalmali Guttal, Davit Hakobyan (vice-chair), Uche Ofodile (vice chair), Genevieve Savigny, Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas

– Claudia Flores (Chair), Ivana Krstić (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Haina Lu, and Laura Nyirinkindi, Working group on discrimination against women and girls

– Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

– Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito (Chair-Rapporteur), Ravindran Daniel, Michelle Small, Joana de Deus Pereira, Andrés Macías Tolosa, Working Group on the use of mercenaries

– Ashwini K.P. Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

– Olivier De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights