Orcas resident illegally detained by Israeli military

||| FROM MADS HALL and BAILEY QUISHENBERRY |||

Urgent! Jas Ikeda, Orcas resident, has been illegally detained by the Israeli military. Yesterday, October 1st at approximately noon Pacific Standard Time, Ikeda’s vessel, the Sirius-Haifa, was intercepted and boarded in international waters.

The crew has been detained and is being held in Israel. Ikeda is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian aid flotilla making its way to break the siege on Gaza and deliver critical humanitarian aid. You can see Jas’ SOS video – and many others who have been detained – here or here. Here is a recent Seattle Times article on Jas and the flotilla.

One of the best parts of being an Orcas Islander is the way we take care of each other. If you want to take care of your fellow citizen, here is what you can do RIGHT NOW.

Call our Congressional representative TODAY!

Congressional representative phone numbers:

Congressmember Rick Larsen: 202-255-4420
Senator Patty Murray 202-224-2621
Senator Maria Cantwell 202-224-3441

*if you can only make one call, please call Congressmember Larsen!

Here is a brief script you can use: “[introduce yourself and where you are from, say why you care about this issue]. I am calling to urge you to do everything in your power to ensure the US State Department is pressuring the Israeli government to immediately release all detainees from the Global Sumud Flotilla, and in particular, ensure the safety of your constituent and US citizen Jas Ikeda. We also need you to make a public statement denouncing the illegal interception and detainment of a US citizen, and urge all governments – including the US and Israel – ensure that much needed humanitarian aid into Gaza now.”

And please join us in Eastsound on Friday Oct 3rd for Orcas Island for a vigil.

Thank you so much for caring about our friend and caring about Gaza, we hope to see you Friday.

In solidarity….

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