Muscat: Oman Human Rights Commission expresses deep concern over the attack on the “Global Freedom Flotilla” in international waters and the arrest of its participants by Israeli authorities.
This act constitutes a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, especially given the peaceful mission toward the Gaza Strip aimed at delivering humanitarian aid a noble effort to break the blockade and alleviate the ongoing suffering of civilians trapped in the region.
The Commission affirms that the continued Israeli assaults represent a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as of international humanitarian law, which guarantees the protection of civilians during conflicts.
It calls for the full release of the detainees, assurance of their safety, and facilitation of their return to their home countries. In this regard, the Commission is closely monitoring the efforts undertaken by official authorities in the Sultanate of Oman to ensure the safety of Omani citizens participating in the flotilla and to secure their return to the homeland.
Furthermore, the Commission continues to coordinate a unified stance with the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions and seeks to engage relevant UN mechanisms to ensure their release, including the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.