Israel makes a mockery of human rights

Two boats loaded with tens of international activists entered Gaza in August in defiance of a deadly Israeli blockade on the coastal strip.

They later returned to Cyprus, but several were stranded in Gaza after the Israeli's prevented them from leaving on charges of illegal entry. One of the activists still in Gaza is Lauren Booth, the sister-in-law of former British prime minister Tony Blair.

The following is Press TV's exclusive interview with the British activist.

Press TV: Ms. Booth, [you are] still stuck in Gaza. Can you please explain your most recent efforts, especially quoting from the Press Association you mentioned that you are working with British diplomats at the 'highest levels'.

Booth: Well, the British consul, both in Gaza and Jerusalem (Al-Quds), the people charged with representing foreign nationals in this region with the exit visas to get home. As a British passport-holder who has committed no illegal acts here, I was able to presume that when I arrived by the boats, that I would be able to get home via Rafah which was open.

However, two weeks on, and the Egyptians have still not allowed me exit even during the times when the border has been opened for people with international passports.

So, this means, really, I am being used as a political ping pong for a game between Israel, which is controlling Egypt's decisions, I believe, in this matter and the rest of the world.

Press TV: Israel's siege on Gaza, the restrictions on travel to one's home and country and at the same time that being a breach of international human rights. Can you please tell us more about that and why each and every time, there is a lack of action by the international community?

Booth: Well, lets start with a new report published today by B'Tselem which is a human rights organization based in Israel which has made it perfectly clear in its position paper that Israel has increased its policy of tearing families apart between the West Bank and Gaza.

What does this mean in practical terms? Well, if you have papers allowing you to live in the West Bank, you could have been there for 15, 20 years, perhaps even born there, but if the Israeli forces can come and repatriate you, force you to live in Gaza, this is separating people from their families on a daily basis.

I have met mothers who have not seen their children for one, two, three, four, five years and that is within Palestine.

So what I am talking about is the problems of people getting out across the borders but even within this broken land there is no freedom of movement and the international community must take action to defend the human rights of the people in Gaza and the West Bank.

Press TV: I want to tell you a statement you made at the time, "Lip-service to the suffering of the Gazans without witnessing it at first hand makes a mockery of his [Blair's] role." So why this inaction from Tony Blair? Surely, he must be in the know.

Booth: It is hard to know quite what the point of the Quartet's office is in concern with the Gaza Strip. They succeeded in opening no part of the Gaza Strip to the rest of the world.

They have not enabled any more food or humanitarian aid or economic products to enter Gaza since he has been there. I do not think they actually have a policy on Gaza and if they have please make it public so it can be commented upon.

Press TV: You said when you tried to cross into Israel at Erez "I was with an elderly woman who needed hospital treatment in Jerusalem. We were refused and when I tried to go forward, I was told Take one step and we shoot". Your guess at how often these types of incidents happen, and worse yet, how often an Israeli soldier actually takes that step and shoots?

Booth: Well, you know, it is common knowledge here that at Erez if the Israelis consider that it is not your day to cross, which they do quite randomly despite having coordination and the correct papers, if they decide it is not your day to cross and you do go into that no-man's-land, there are snipers there who specialize in headshots.

So, we we're really fortunate that we were not opened fire on. The only reason that old lady was not shot that day was because internationals were there and the TV cameras.

Now this makes a lie and a mockery of Israel's continued statements that they allow all cases with the right papers, who are in need of medical treatment, to go abroad. This is simply not the case on the ground.

That lady was turned back seven times from an urgent operation that she needed. She is 64 years old. She has now had the operation but only when the internationals stepped into the breach and risked being killed.