Physicans for Human Rights - Guilty by Suspicion

Last Friday, myself and over 300 Israeli and international supporters of Physicians for Human Rights attempted to accompany a dispatch of medical supplies from Tel Aviv to the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza (three buses from Tel Aviv and additional buses from Jerusalem, Taybeh, and Beersheba). Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) then planned to hold a demonstration at Yad Mordechai, near the Kerem Shalom crossing, calling upon the government of Israel to cease fire, stop killing of civilians, stop targeting of medical teams and aid convoys, and stop preventing evacuation of the wounded.

However, the group's attempt to accompany the medical supplies and exercise their guaranteed right of freedom of speech in Israel was stopped shortly after our departure from Tel Aviv. Roughly 20 kilometers north of Erez Crossing into Gaza, at the southern edge of the Israeli city of Ashkelon, a large police force stopped the first three buses from Tel Aviv, took the drivers off the buses, locked the bus doors, confiscated the driving licenses and identify papers of all three drivers, and ordered them to turn around. The police threatened the drivers with legal action if they let anyone off the bus and did not turn immediately turn back to Tel Aviv.

One or two police vehicles accompanied each bus back to Tel Aviv, and the drivers' papers and licenses were not returned to them until after reaching Tel Aviv. However, The Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) leaders on my bus convinced our driver to stop at a gas station, so they could discuss the situation with our police escorts.

Following our arrival at the gas station, about five police vehicles and 15 police officers arrived, including one policeman who filmed all actions by PHR. During the ensuing 20 minute argument with police, officers claimed the buses had been stopped and diverted because they had "substantive reason to suspect the group of intention to carry out illegal action", despite the fact that PHR had expressed their intention to hold a peaceful vigil and had made previous contact with the police. We were then escorted back to Tel Aviv where PHR staged a peaceful demonstration at the Israeli Ministry for Defense.

Restriction of access and free speech because of ones "intent" sets a very dangerous precedent and clearly erodes the basic "foundations" of freedom and democracy in Israel, not only for Palestinians, but for any Israeli who questions the actions of their government.

In regards to the supply convoy, two trucks, bearing ICU beds, ICU equipment and supplies, medical equipment for operating rooms, and consumables, were allowed to unload at Kerem Shalom Crossing and all the supplies ($500,000) were sent to Gaza hospitals.