The status of Quilcene peace activist Kit Kittredge, the only American among the 22 pro-Palestinian activists detained Friday while challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza, was unknown Saturday evening, fellow activists said.
The group, expected to be released within 72 hours of their detention, was heading to Gaza on two boats, the Tahrir from Canada and the Saoirse from Ireland, to deliver medical supplies and letters of support to Palestinians, they said.
They left Turkey on Wednesday, Kittredge traveling on the Tahrir.
The Israeli military stopped the boats about 48 miles off the coast of Gaza, said Sallie Shawl, a spokeswoman for the activists.
Shawl and Kittredge’s friend and fellow activist Linda Frank of Tacoma said they had not heard when she would be released.
Journalists, crew members
Three journalists and two Greek crew members were also on board.
The crew members were flown home Saturday; the journalists from the U.S., Spain and Egypt were released and told to leave by Sunday, The Associated Press said.
The State Department warned Saturday that Americans could face consequences under U.S. law for challenging the blockade, put in place in 2007 when Hamas took control of the territory, but did not specify what.
Frank said she expects Kittredge, 53, to be doing “pretty darn good,” adding that she was prepared for the possibility of being detained.
Shawl said Kittredge was feeling “positive” and “determined” when she spoke with her Thursday.
Kittredge, a member of Code Pink who has been to Gaza five times in the past two years, also told Democracy Now! on Thursday:
“I anticipate that the Israeli army, probably the navy, is probably considering boarding us at some point on our way to Gaza and the siege.
“I’m not feeling fearful. I’m feeling actually pretty peaceful. And that’s what we are: We are a peaceful boat and a peaceful flotilla going to end the siege.”
Kittredge, a former Quilcene School Board member, had previously pushed for a boycott of Israeli goods at the Port Townsend Food Co-op.
Shawl said the purpose of the flotilla is to get much-needed supplies to Gaza residents, which they don’t trust Israel to deliver.
Highlight policy
She said activists also want to challenge the blockade and highlight what they see as an unjust policy that collectively punishes the Palestinian population for terrorism.
Shawl added she is disappointed and angry over the boarding.
“This is ridiculous,” she said. “This is a peaceful flotilla.”
Previous flotillas have been searched by third parties for weapons, but this one wasn’t, Shawl said, because they were trying to keep the operation under wraps to avoid sabotage.
None of the activists was transporting arms or planned to resist the Israeli military, she said.
Most of the flotillas challenging the blockade have been peaceful. One in May 2010 resulted in the deaths of nine protestors after Israeli commandos met violent resistance.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
