Media statement by Tony Pua Kiam Wee in Petaling Jaya on Monday, 31^st May 2010:

DAP vehemently condemns the cold blooded attack on a peaceful and humanitarian mission to Gaza by the Israeli Government

The Democratic Action Party condemns the violent attack by the Israeli army on the "Freedom Flotilla" which was carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza who are suffering from Israeli occupation which has resulted in a reported 16 deaths and scores injured. The Israeli navy has blockaded the Gaza Strip for the past 3 years.

The total and utter disregard for human lives especially those with only peaceful intent and bearing aid for the needy is not only abhorrent, but also evil to the very core. The attack on the flotilla is equal to any attack on Red Cross missions to aid injured civilians during the times of war. What is worst is that the attack by the Israeli navy was conducted in international waters.

The attack comes at a time when "proximity talks" which only started this month, are on-going between the United States, the Israeli government and the Palestinian authorities to resolve the decades old conflict in the Middleast. It appears that this pre-meditated attack is obviously meant to scuttle the attempts by the Palestinians to achieve independent self-rule, free from Israeli occupation.

The DAP calls on the Israeli government to ensure an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza. We would also call upon those to ordered the unprovoked military attack on the peace mission to be charged in the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The head of United Nation's Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) mission in Gaza, John Ging has specifically expressed the need for the Flotilla to enter Gaza as due to the "medieval siege", mass unemployment, extreme poverty, food insecurity and food price rises caused by shortages left four out of five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid.

We call upon the government of United States, led by Barrack Obama to demonstrate its even-handedness by taking concrete actions against the Israeli government for the outright act of aggression and support a motion in the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israeli aggression. We also call upon the United States Government to end its US$3 billion military aid per annum to Israel.

Finally, the DAP would like to commend the courage of all the 750 people of conscience from 40 different countries including 35 Malaysian and international politicians intent on breaking the Israeli blockade. We offer our sincerest condolences to family and friends who have lost loved ones in the attack.

* Tony Pua Kiam Wee, DAP National Publicity Secretary & MP for Petaling Jaya Utara