Israeli navy intercepts Gaza flotilla; Greek boat among those stopped

The Israeli navy has intercepted a flotilla of vessels attempting to interruption the naval blockade of Gaza to present humanitarian aid, sparking planetary condemnation. According to organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, astir 20 boats were stopped, though some proceed to sail.

Among the ships intercepted was the Greek vessel “Oxygen”, whose activists reported via the relationship marchtogaza_greece that the boarding constituted “an enactment of planetary piracy successful violation of planetary instrumentality and maritime law.” The station added: “Our comrades are being abducted against their will and transferred to an unknown location. We request the Greek authorities warrant their contiguous and harmless return.”

Greek MP Petty Perka (New Left), who was aboard the Oxygen, shared a video earlier interception describing the attack of Israeli warships. “For a infinitesimal we believed that tomorrow we would scope Gaza to clasp the children waiting for us. Unfortunately, arsenic expected, 4 miles up of the archetypal boats, Israeli warships appeared,” she said.

The flotilla’s organisers claimed that the vessel Florida was deliberately rammed, while Yulara, Meteque and others were deed with water cannons. They stressed each passengers were safe. Among those detained was Swedish activistic Greta Thunberg.

French MEP Rima Hassan, of Palestinian descent, accused Israel of “illegal” and “arbitrary” arrests of hundreds of flotilla members. She was reportedly forced to propulsion her telephone overboard during the raid.

The flotilla departed Spain successful aboriginal September with astir 45 vessels and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from implicit 40 countries, including Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela, erstwhile Barcelona politician Ada Colau, and Thunberg. Their declared aim: to interruption Gaza’s blockade and present humanitarian assistance to a colonisation facing “famine and genocide.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry denounced the raid arsenic a “terrorist act” that “blatantly violates planetary law,” accusing the Netanyahu authorities of “fascist and militaristic policies” extending beyond Palestinians to each who reason Israeli actions. Ankara said it had launched diplomatic and ineligible measures for the merchandise of Turkish citizens.

In Latin America, Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s diplomatic mission, calling the interception “an planetary crime” and condemning the apprehension of two Colombians “in planetary waters.” Colombia had already severed ties with Israel successful 2024.

The blockade of Gaza, imposed by Israel with Egyptian support since 2007, has agelong been a flashpoint for planetary criticism. Previous flotilla efforts, astir notably successful 2010, ended successful deadly violence. This latest confrontation again raises questions implicit humanitarian access, maritime law, and the prospects for a ceasefire successful Gaza.