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Source: ONE News -
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New Zealanders, including a former kidnap victim, will join a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for Gaza later next month.
The flotilla of at least 10 vessels bound for Gaza in June is made up of individuals from 14 national groups and international coalitions aiming to raise public awareness.
The flotilla will carry humanitarian aid as well as approximately 1000 passengers, including journalists, politicians, humanitarian aid workers, dignitaries, doctors, professors, artists and human rights activists.
New Zealander Harmeet Sooden, who in 2005 was kidnapped with three colleagues in Iraq and held for four months, will be part of flotilla group.
Since 2005, Sooden has undertaken various human rights assignments with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and with CPT in Iraq.
Sooden says it's imperative that "New Zealanders join with us in demanding that the New Zealand Government take concrete steps to guarantee the safety of all participants in this non-violent, legal action to challenge the US-supported Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza."
This time last year a number of New Zealanders were caught up in deadly raid on a Turkish ship heading into Gaza. Israeli state-appointed investigators ruled that its naval commandoes acted with legitimate restraint when they shot dead nine Turkish activists after intercepting the flotilla trying to reach Gaza on May 31 last year.
New Zealander Nicola Enchmarch was among the passengers and crew who were captured and detained in Israeli custody before being deported.
Another flotilla of international ships has left for Gaza aiming to reach the area to mark the first anniversary of that deadly raid.
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