Gaza Convoy Activists Claim Israeli Soldiers Using Debit Cards Stolen in Raid


by Haroon Siddique

Israeli troops have been accused of stealing from activists arrested in the assault on the Gaza flotilla after confiscated debit cards belonging to activists were subsequently used.

[One of the ships impounded by Israel when it raided the flotilla of aid vessels off Gaza. Photograph: Jim Hollander/EPA]One of the ships impounded by Israel when it raided the flotilla of aid vessels off Gaza. Photograph: Jim Hollander/EPA
In their raid of 31 May, the Israeli army stormed the boats on the flotilla and, as well as money and goods destined for the Palestinian relief effort in Gaza, the bulk of which have yet to be returned, took away most of the personal possessions of the activists when taking them into custody.

Individual soldiers appear to have used confiscated debit cards to buy items such as iPod accessories, while mobile phones seized from activists have also been used for calls.

Ebrahim Musaji, 23, of Gloucester, has a bank statement showing his debit card was used in an Israeli vending machine for a purchase costing him 82p on 9 June.

It was then used on a Dutch website, www.thisipod.com, twice on 10 June: once for amounts equivalent to £42.42 and then for £37.83. And a Californian activist, Kathy Sheetz, has alleged that she has been charged more than $1,000 in transactions from vending machines in Israel since 6 June.

Musaji and Sheetz were on board two separate boats - one the Mavi Marmara, on which nine Turkish activists were killed, the other on the Challenger 1. Both activists only entered Israel when arrested, and were in custody for their entire time on Israeli soil.

"They've obviously taken my card and used it," Musaji told the Guardian.

"When they take things like people's videos and debit cards and use them, and their mobile phones, it becomes a bit of a joke.

"We were held hostage, we were attacked, and now there's been theft. If the police confiscate your goods in the UK, they're not going to use your goods and think they can get away with it."

Musaji cancelled his card on 7 June, the day after he returned to Britain, where he is a support worker for adults with learning difficulties. His bank has agreed to treat the transactions as fraudulent and he will not be charged for them. His mobile phone was also used for two short calls in Israel after it had been confiscated.

Another American activist, David Schermerhorn, 80, from Washington state, claims his iPhone was used, while Manolo Luppichini, an Italian journalist, said his card was debited with the equivalent of €54 after it was confiscated.

Activists say Israel still has possession of at least £1m of goods and cash, comprising aid and personal possessions, including laptops and cameras.

Some passports, three of them belonging to British citizens, have still not been returned. On Thursday, delegations in 12 countries, including the UK, held meetings with their respective governments to exert pressure on Israeli to return the seized property.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli embassy in London advised Musaji to register a formal complaint.

"We regard any misconduct as described in Mr Musaji's allegations to be utterly unacceptable and intolerable, and suggest waiting until this subject matter is clarified," she said. "As had happened previously, an Israeli soldier was found guilty of illegal use of a credit card for which he was indicted and sentenced to seven months' imprisonment."

Views: 59

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Tara on June 20, 2010 at 1:49am
Talk about adding insult to injury......WTF? But I guess when you're talking about God's supposed chosen people, they get the get out of jail free card......unbelievable!

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Less Prone favorited Burbia's blog post Mystery illness strikes Russia with fever, blood symptoms, and no cure in sight.
6 hours ago
Less Prone commented on Burbia's blog post Mystery illness strikes Russia with fever, blood symptoms, and no cure in sight.
"Sounds like a bioweapon"
6 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Through Her Disguise
"cheeki kea Thank you so much your words are  always inspirational. But, when the word joy…"
7 hours ago
Sandy posted a photo
9 hours ago
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"The early writing."
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Through Her Disguise
"Spoken like a true poet. I wanted to reply to your comment but had to think on it for awhile. My…"
yesterday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Thursday
Snakedaddy posted a photo
Thursday
Snakedaddy commented on Snakedaddy's album
Thumbnail

a soon shit

"a soon shit"
Thursday
Snakedaddy posted a photo
Thursday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"Thanks for reply Burbia. Language wise there appears to be Hungarian sub branch component to it…"
Thursday
tjdavis posted a video

Passing Strange- Keys/ It's Alright

I do not own the rights to this video... But it is Helluva awesome.
Wednesday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Wednesday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Through Her Disguise

I know that a lot of times in my articles it might seem that I'm down on women a lot from a man's…See More
Tuesday
Burbia posted a video

Soros Will Never Recover..Elon AIR The whole Thing

The view on TRUMP protests as people are Democrats..CLOWN SHOW: Cory “Spartacus” Booker went on The View to take a victory lap for joining the Soros-funded a...
Tuesday
Burbia replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"If this was a universal language, it might be regarded as a time going back before the Tower of…"
Tuesday
Burbia commented on Sandy's photo
Thumbnail

FB_IMG_1744012893167

"I was waiting for a trail of death to meet between Vancouver Canada and San Francisco California…"
Tuesday
Twin City Security Fort Worth updated their profile
Monday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Monday
Sandy posted a photo
Apr 7

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted