Expected release of the last Swiss nationals detained in Israel

Since the arrest and illegal detention of the 19 Swiss nationals participating in the Freedom Flotilla, our association, Waves of Freedom Switzerland, has stepped up its efforts with the FDFA to secure their immediate release.

According to the information we have received, the 10 Swiss nationals still detained to date are expected to be released today, subject to official confirmation. Nevertheless, we remain cautious in the face of a state that has long since abandoned any respect for the rule of law and is accustomed to the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Following the illegal and shameful attacks on the humanitarian and peaceful flotillas, the Israeli government carried out equally illegal arrests and detentions. It subjected our citizens to cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment, as defined in the International Convention against Torture, both physically and psychologically.

As we await their return, our concern, as well as that of their families, remains undiminished. Several of our compatriots are still being denied medical treatment, a situation that exposes them to serious risks to their health and physical and mental integrity. We are even more concerned for Muslim participants and detainees, or those considered as such, as well as for Palestinian detainees, against whom Israel is redoubling its violence and cruelty.

As we have already indicated, the Waves of Freedom association is documenting the serious abuses suffered by our compatriots, as well as those they have witnessed. These facts will be forwarded to the competent judicial authorities with a view to initiating legal proceedings.

The impunity that the Israeli authorities continue to enjoy must end. We reiterate our requests to the FDFA to:

1. Adopt immediate economic, cultural, and academic sanctions against the State of Israel;
2. Support South Africa's case before the International Court of Justice under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948);
3. Support any legal proceedings aimed at ensuring that all those involved in the violations committed against our nationals are tried and punished in proportion to the crimes committed.

The Waves of Freedom Association would like to once again thank the lawyers at the Adalah Legal Centre, who defended our citizens. We are infinitely grateful to them.

Unlike many countries, Switzerland, through the FDFA, has informed our association that the repatriation of our nationals will be at our expense. We hope that the Swiss authorities will reconsider this dishonorable decision and celebrate the courage of the Swiss activists who tried to support the Palestinian people, victims of genocide.

📥 Download the press release (in English & French)

Spokespersons

Hicham El Ghaoui 076 732 92 42
Annie Serrati 078 690 10 82
Leïla Kamel 079 549 58 45

presse@waves-of-freedom.ch
@waves_of_freedom_switzerland
@globalmouvementtogaza.swiss

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