Janet Simmon: Tax dollars should not be used to support Israel, intercepting aid

To The Daily Sun,

Since 2007, mercy ships have been attempting to carry aid to the people of the Gaza Strip. On Oct. 1, New Hampshire state Rep. Ellen Read sailed with a flotilla of 42 boats with 462 people from 47 nations to take medicine, food and water to Gaza. The flotilla was organized to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and mobilize millions worldwide to stand for humanity.



All the flotilla’s vessels were illegally intercepted by Israeli ships in international waters. Their communications were systematically jammed.

They are beginning to return and tell their stories.

They were taken to the port of Ashdod then to Ketziot prison in the Negev desert.

Reports from Americans who were held:

“An Israeli military vessel circling, shining a spotlight on us, and we knew that if they decided to ram us or stop right in front of us, and we hit them, we could sink.”


“They came and hit us right away with spotlights and with high pressure water cannons. ... It pounded me in the back of the head, whacked my head right into the steering wheel, and I lost vision.”


“They took my passport, zip-tied me, chained my ankles."

“Four or five soldiers or military prison guards beat me, punching me in my stomach, back, all around my torso, and they clubbed me on the back of the neck.”

“I didn’t meet a single person who saw a lawyer, and we asked at every opportunity.”


Some reported medications withheld, guards in the night with shotguns, dogs, riot shields.


Our U.S. Consulate, whose job is to help our citizens abroad, refused assistance.

These courageous humanitarians put their lives on the line. I protest my tax dollars being used to support such attacks.

Ellen Read was scheduled to return to NH on Nov. 3.

Janet Simmon

Laconia