"The 'Freedom Flotilla' has the right to free passage in international waters and Israel must not interfere with its freedom of navigation, long recognized under international law. As the 'Freedom Flotilla' approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, it is essential that Israel respects international law, including the recent orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian aid," they stressed in a statement.

The experts said they were "particularly concerned for the safety of the participants," given "Israel's repeated attacks on UN humanitarian missions and civilians."

Israel, they stressed, "should be mindful that the world is watching closely and refrain from any hostile acts against the flotilla participants," recalling that the Israeli military killed 10 people during a 2010 attack on the Mavi Marmara, which was sailing to Gaza on a similar mission.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a peaceful, civilian initiative whose vessels, sailing from Turkey, will carry 5,550 tons of humanitarian aid and hundreds of international human rights observers to the besieged Gaza Strip, including "human rights activists, including lawyers, doctors, nurses, journalists, Members of Parliament and politicians."

The aim is "to deliver life-saving aid directly to the besieged people of Gaza, in legitimate defiance of Israel's control over the entry of humanitarian assistance," they said.

"The besiegement of a civilian population is illegal," the experts stressed, denouncing Israel's "genocidal violence," including "an unprecedented starvation campaign."

"After 17 years of blockading Gaza, Israel has created a situation of mass starvation by cutting off regular supplies of water, food and essential goods into Gaza, destroying livelihoods, the food system and civilian infrastructure. By failing to meet its humanitarian obligations as the occupying Power, Israel further restricts humanitarian assistance, wilfully shelling humanitarian convoys and targeting aid workers and civilians seeking assistance," they charged.

This initiative, they said, is "a tangible manifestation of international support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination and the internationally recognized right to receive humanitarian assistance without interference or disruption."

"States are failing in their obligations to end Israel's genocide and starvation in Gaza. In fact, many States continue to support Israel with weapons, funds and political support: this may render them complicit in Israel's genocide and starvation," they warned, before arguing that "this is why civilians, such as the participants in the 'Freedom Flotilla', are increasingly stepping up to show their solidarity, protect and fulfil the human rights of Palestinians through direct action."

The signatories of the statement are the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese; the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri; and the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal.

The vessels were due to have left Turkey by now, but have suffered several delays, the latest of which was due to a surprise inspection by Guinea-Bissau, under whose flag the group's lead vessel the 'Akdeniz' sails, according to sources in the organisation consulted by Europa Press, which denounced "pressure" from Israel on the African country.

According to these sources, "everything was in order and ready" to set sail today, but it is not clear when the mission will now be able to get underway.

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