Israeli forces on Thursday intercepted 13 boats from an international flotilla carrying activists and humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, sparking widespread condemnation from foreign governments and human rights groups.
Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said 30 other vessels remained at sea, pressing ahead toward the besieged Palestinian enclave despite repeated Israeli warnings.
The flotilla, comprising more than 40 civilian boats carrying medicine, food and about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists from across the globe, set sail to challenge Israel’s 17-year blockade of Gaza.
Video verified by Reuters showed Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg among those detained, surrounded by Israeli soldiers on one of the seized boats. Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed her detention, saying the vessels had been “safely stopped” and their passengers transferred to an Israeli port.
Flotilla organisers accused Israel of committing a “war crime” by forcibly boarding vessels in international waters, about 70 nautical miles from Gaza. They said communications had been scrambled and boats attacked with water cannon, though no injuries were reported.
“Our mission is humanitarian and non-violent,” activists insisted in a statement, rejecting Israeli claims that the effort was a political stunt.
The interception drew sharp international backlash. Turkey denounced the raid as an “act of terror,” while Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned Israel for detaining eight Malaysians, saying the move showed “utter contempt for the conscience of the world.”
In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s diplomatic mission and suspended a bilateral free trade agreement after two Colombian citizens were seized. Protests also broke out in Italy and Colombia, with Italian unions calling for a general strike on Friday in solidarity with the flotilla.
Israel defended its actions, saying the flotilla was attempting to breach a lawful blockade around a combat zone.
“This systematic refusal to hand over aid through safe channels demonstrates that the objective is not humanitarian, but provocative,” Jonathan Peled, Israel’s ambassador to Italy, posted on X.
Israeli officials said they were ready to transfer aid through established routes to Gaza.
The standoff is the most high-profile sea-borne challenge to Israel’s blockade since 2010, when nine activists were killed after Israeli commandos stormed a Gaza-bound flotilla.
More recently, Thunberg herself was detained in June when she attempted to approach Gaza with another pro-Palestinian group.
The latest confrontation comes against the backdrop of Israel’s nearly two-year offensive in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks that killed around 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 others, according to Israeli figures.
Gaza health authorities say more than 65,000 Palestinians have since been killed in the campaign, leaving much of the enclave in ruins.
As of Thursday morning, flotilla organisers said 30 boats were still sailing toward Gaza, roughly 46 nautical miles from their destination, and vowed to continue “undeterred.”
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
