Gaza, Oct 2 (V7N) – Israeli forces intercepted around 40 boats carrying humanitarian aid and over 400 foreign activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, bound for Gaza, sparking international condemnation and protests on Thursday.
 
Live footage verified by Reuters showed armed Israeli soldiers, equipped with helmets and night vision goggles, boarding the vessels while passengers, wearing life vests, raised their hands. A video from Israel’s foreign ministry showed Thunberg, 22, sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers. She had also pre-recorded a message stating, “If you are watching this video, I have been abducted and taken against my will by Israeli forces. Our humanitarian mission was non-violent and abiding by international law.”
 
The intercepted vessels and their passengers were expected to be diverted to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Israeli authorities confirmed all passengers were safe and in good health and would be deported to Europe after processing. Some detainees were moved to a large cargo vessel before being brought ashore.
 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Israel’s actions, calling them aggressive and highlighting the plight of children in Gaza. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged Israel to release South African nationals aboard the flotilla, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela.
 
Suhad Bishara, director of the human rights organization Adalah in Israel, said the primary concern was the safety, health, and legal rights of the detained activists, who were expected to be transferred to Ketziot Prison in southern Israel for processing.
 
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail in late August, was carrying food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid to Gaza. It included parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists from multiple countries and represented the highest-profile seaborne challenge to Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Israeli officials have repeatedly condemned the flotilla as a political stunt.
 
The interception triggered protests in Italy, Colombia, Greece, Ireland, and Turkey, with Italian unions calling for a general strike on Friday. Hamas expressed support for the activists, describing Israel’s interception as a “criminal act” and urging public demonstrations.
 
The flotilla was approximately 70 nautical miles off Gaza when intercepted. Israel maintains a maritime zone around Gaza to prevent unauthorized entries following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Since then, Israeli military operations have reportedly resulted in over 66,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Palestinian health authorities.
 
The Israeli navy had warned the flotilla that its vessels were entering an active combat zone and violating the blockade, offering to deliver aid through safe channels. Despite these warnings, the flotilla proceeded with its mission, which drew global attention and diplomatic responses from several nations.
 
News Source: Reuters....
 
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