Liam Henrie, long-time crew member and one of Clearwater’s captains last season, is missing after a military interception yesterday in international waters near Cyprus. Liam was participating in a second wave of a nonviolent humanitarian flotilla sailing to Gaza with food and medical supplies for civilians.
The Global Sumud Flotilla includes a coalition of over 50 vessels and 400 volunteer participants from more than 45 countries. In the last 30+ hours, vessels in the flotilla have been boarded, disabled, and seized by Israel’s Navy, and crew members were taken into custody and are being transported to Israel.
We are receiving updates from Liam’s designated emergency contacts, who are receiving information directly from the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Civilian humanitarian missions at sea are protected under international law, specifically the European Convention on Human Rights (Articles 2, 3, 5, and 6), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 6, 7 and 9), the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Article 98), and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which affirm obligations to protect civilian life and render assistance to persons in distress at sea. Additionally, Article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Rome Statute further prohibits the obstruction of humanitarian relief operations in conflict zones.
Last month, during the first wave of the flotilla, 180 civilians, including Liam Henrie, Fredrique Guevara-Prip, and Brigid Slattery – all former Clearwater crew – were intercepted near Greece and detained.
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater stands in solidarity with our former crew members and all those undertaking peaceful humanitarian action at sea.
Join Clearwater in calling for urgent efforts to confirm the whereabouts and safety of Liam and all individuals involved and to ensure their protection under international law.
