SA journalist released
2010-06-02 09:16
Cape Town - Radio journalist Gadijah Davids has been released by Israeli authorities after she was detained for being part of a convoy that tried to break through the Gaza blockade, her mother said on Wednesday.
"We spoke directly to her for half a minute last night. She was just telling us that she is on her way home," said Magboeba Davids.
The Department of International Relations told the family that Davids was "physically fine, but emotionally not fine".
The place they were detained at was clean and all their needs were met.
Equipment
She had been "separated" from the equipment she used as a Radio786 reporter, and it was not clear yet whether this was returned.
The family understood that she would be coming home via Jordan but the finer points of her travel arrangements were not yet known.
Davids said that her daughter had refused to be deported by the Israeli authorities but then later the authorities decided to release all foreigners.
"They were asked to sign an admission of guilt fine, but they all refused because they were in international waters [at the time of the clash]."
She said: "In the moment, I must commend her and all those who were detained for not signing the admission of guilt."
Blockade
Davids was among hundreds of people, including artists, politicians and human rights activists, on board the six ships sailing towards Gaza.
Israel had imposed a blockade on Gaza, following prolonged periods of mortar fire between Gaza and Israel. Israel argued that preventing the landing of weaponry, or materials to manufacture weapons, was the only way it could protect its citizens.
Many countries had made it their policy to call for the blockade to be lifted, agreeing with humanitarian organisations that it was causing suffering.
On Monday the Israeli Defence Force intercepted the flotilla saying organisers had refused to allow the ships to be searched for weapons and had refused to land the goods at a port of Israel's choice to enable a search.
At least nine civilians died in violent clashes on one of the ships, the Mavi Marmara, which Davids was on.
- SAPA
