News release – for immediate release May 31, 2010

Montreal -- Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) has expressed shock and outrage in response to the deaths and injuries of participants in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla at the hands of the Israeli navy.

“The UN and numerous NGOs have described the conditions in Gaza, caused by the Israeli blockade, as a humanitarian disaster. This flotilla is an heroic attempt to break the blockade, which has inflicted so much needless pain and suffering on the people of Gaza for the past several years,” said IJV spokesperson Larry Haiven. “The flotilla has our organization's full support.”

“Instead of responding to this growing concern for the suffering that the people of Gaza caused by the blockade, Israel has reacted by unleashing murderous violence against this non-violent solidarity effort,” Haiven continued.

“The international community must stand up to this horrifying instance of state terrorism by taking immediate action to hold Israel accountable for this crime. We must put an end to Israeli impunity,” he concluded.

Larry Haiven, (902) 240-2782 (cell)

www.independentjewishvoices.ca

Independent Jewish Voices – Canada is a national organization that promotes a just resolution to the conflict in Israel and Palestine through the application of international law and respect for the human rights of all parties. IJV has chapters in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Vancouver.