Mckinney Released From Israeli Jail; Another American Still Held Captive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:
Kristin Szremski
Director of Media and Communications
American Muslims for Palestine
10101 S. Roberts Road
Palos Hills, IL 60465
708.598.4267

(WASHINGTON D.C., 07/06/2009) - Former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is on her way home to the United States after being released from nearly one week in Israeli captivity. She is expected to arrive in a Washington DC airport sometime tonight.

McKinney, along with 20 others, were aboard a ship carrying aid to the besieged residents of Gaza when the Israeli navy intercepted the vessel,which was in international waters, seized it and arrested the 21 aid workers aboard.

Another American, John Judge, a researcher and congressional staff member, is still purportedly among the incarcerated.

The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) is cheered by news of McKinney’s release. However, Israel is still holding 20 innocent victims – including American citizen Judge - of the raid, which the United Nations has declared illegal. AMP questions why the U.S. government is allowing a foreign state to incarcerate innocent American citizens.

McKinney and the others were taking much needed food and medical supplies to the 1.5 million residents of Gaza, where Israel’s two-year blockade has resulted in a complete economic breakdown that has forced more than 70 percent of the population into abject poverty and where more than 400,000 people don’t have access to clean water for cooking or drinking.

AMP calls on the members of Congress, Special Envoy George Mitchell and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to demand Israel release American John Judge and the other 19 prisoners. AMP also calls on Congress, Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Clinton to pressure Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza and allow the free flow of food, medial and infrastructure construction supplies into the area some experts are calling the “Gaza Ghetto.”

AMP calls on Congress to stop sending $5 billion in unrestricted aid, loan guarantees and other aid to Israel.

The American Muslims for Palestine is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to educate the American public and media about issues relating to Palestine and its rich cultural heritage. For more information or to make a donation, call 888.404.4AMP.