Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Israeli forces have boarded and taken control of multiple ships in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and had attracted worldwide attention as one of the largest naval aid missions to the Palestinian enclave.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes more than 40 civilian boats and about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists transporting medicine and food to Gaza, was intercepted by Israeli forces late on Wednesday, with activists on board detained and taken to Israel.
How did Israeli forces intercept the Global Sumud flotilla?
According to the flotilla organisers, Israel intercepted a group of boats carrying humanitarian aid. They reported that Israeli naval forces intercepted the vessels approximately 70 nautical miles from Gaza’s coast, disrupting communications and jamming signals as the flotilla approached the blockaded area.
According to the flotilla’s tracking system, Israeli forces halted 14 boats carrying foreign activists and aid destined for Gaza on Thursday. It has shared several videos on Telegram featuring messages from people on the boats, some holding passports and claiming they were abducted and taken to Israel against their will, while emphasising that their mission was a peaceful humanitarian effort.
A video from the Israeli foreign ministry, verified by Reuters, showed Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, the most prominent passenger of the flotilla, sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers.
What was Israel’s response?
“Several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port,”
The Israeli foreign ministry stated on X.
“Greta and her friends are safe and healthy.”
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a video of a woman in military uniform speaking on the phone, identifying herself as a representative of the Israeli navy.
During the call, she alerts the flotilla that it is approaching a restricted, blockaded zone and clarifies that all aid to Gaza should be delivered “through the established channels.” Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, also stated that activists on the Gaza aid flotilla will be deported after Yom Kippur ends on Thursday.
How many boats are still sailing toward Gaza?
Based on the flotilla’s ship tracking data, 23 boats remained en route to Gaza. The flotilla aimed to reach Gaza on Thursday morning, provided it was not intercepted.
The Gaza-bound aid flotilla reported that dozens of its ships remained “sailing strong” toward Palestinian territory on Thursday, despite being intercepted by Israeli naval forces. As of early Thursday morning, the Global Sumud Flotilla reported that most of its vessels were still en route, approaching the Gaza Strip coast despite some disruptions.
“30 boats still sailing strong on their way to Gaza, just 46 nautical miles away, despite the incessant aggressions from the Israeli occupation navy,”
The flotilla noted.
How did governments respond to Israel’s detention of flotilla activists?
Turkey’s foreign ministry described Israel’s “attack” on the flotilla as “an act of terror” that put the lives of innocent civilians at risk.
The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office announced that it has initiated an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens aboard vessels in the flotilla. They face charges such as deprivation of liberty, seizure of transport vehicles, and property damage, according to Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency.
On Wednesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of Israel’s entire diplomatic delegation after two Colombians were detained on the flotilla. Petro described the detentions as a possible “new international crime” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for the Colombians’ release. Additionally, he ended Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned Israel’s interception of the flotilla on Thursday, stating that Israeli forces had detained eight Malaysians.
“By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world,”
Anwar, whose country is predominantly Muslim, said in a statement.
