The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called upon the Israeli authorities to release without delay all journalists and media staff who were detained on board the Gaza bound aid convoy on Monday morning. Up to a hundred journalists are believed to be among the passengers currently being held by the Israeli Defence Forces.

"The Israeli authorities must not play cat and mouse with professional journalists who are doing their job, not just for the company they serve but in the service of a worldwide audience," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.

The Israeli authorities have given reassurances that they will treat all professional journalists the same way as politicians who accompanied the flotilla and seek their early release and deportation.

Reports state that up to ten people were killed and many more injured during clashes between the military and passengers when the flotilla was boarded by the Israeli Defence Forces in the early hours of Monday morning.

"We are grateful for the tremendous efforts being made by leaders of the National Federation of Israeli Journalists to defend the rights of working professionals who have been caught up in this series of tragic events," added White. "We will continue to work with our Israeli affiliate and others who have expressed concern about the detention of their journalists and media staff."

For more information contact the IFJ at     +32 2 235 22 07

For information on individual cases, please contact the National Federation of Israeli Journalists-NFIJ (Danny Zaken)  at +972-52-2631530 (cell) or  rolada@bezeqint.net)

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide