Woman Claims Tech Company Helps Hamas

MIAMI (CN) - A U.S. expatriate in an Israeli town subjected to Hamas rocket attacks claims a satellite communications company enables terrorists to send fleets of ships through Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Michelle Fendel, of Sderot, Israel, Inmarsat and its CEO Andrew J. Sukawaty in Miami-Dade County Court, seeking declaratory judgment and injunctive relief. Inmarsat is based in the United Kingdom, with an office in Miami.

Fendel says: "In 2007, the Hamas terrorist organization seized power in the Gaza Strip and began to carry out systematic rocket and missile attacks against civilian targets in southern Israel, including, especially, civilian targets in the town of Sderot, which attacks killed and injured a large number of civilians and caused extensive property damage.

"Hamas' rocket attacks against civilian targets in Sderot continue until today, and constitute a present and ongoing danger to the life, person and property of plaintiff Michelle Fendel and other residents of Sderot.

"In order to limit Hamas' ability to receive material support enabling it to carry out such attacks, the State of Israel has imposed a maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip."

To break the blockade, what Fendel describes as "a coalition of violent and/or militant anti-Israel organizations from the U.S. and other countries" organized a flotilla last year, which was attacked by Israel, and suffered 10 or more deaths.

Plans are in the works for another blockade-busting flotilla.

Fendel claims that "Inmarsat provides satellite communication services to some or all of the flotilla ships." She claims that "the flotilla ships are legally and practically unable to sail without the satellite communication services provided to them by Inmarsat. ...

"Inmarsat's provision of satellite communication services to the flotilla ships directly enables and facilitates the flotilla ships' efforts to provide material support to Hamas, which enhances Hamas' ability to carry out attacks against Sderot. ...

"Therefore Inmarsat's provision of satellite communication services to the flotilla ships constitutes a present and on-going danger to the life, person and property of plaintiff Michelle Fendel and other residents of Sderot."

Fendel claims the defendants are giving material support to terrorism. She is represented by Isaac Haroslawicz of Bay Harbor Islands, Fla.

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