Numerous activists, including Swedish climate advocate Greta Thunberg, have been detained by Israeli soldiers following the interception of a flotilla transporting supplies to Gaza.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) are being relocated to an Israeli port for deportation.
The initial vessels were intercepted around 70 nautical miles from the Gaza coast in international waters, but others were halted at a closer distance. Israel has been enforcing regulations in this region, but lacks control over it.
Israel stated that its navy instructed the vessels to alter their trajectory since they were “approaching an active combat zone and breaching a lawful naval blockade,” however, the GSF characterised the interceptions as “illegitimate.”
The organisation characterised Israel’s response as “not a defensive action,” but rather “a flagrant act of desperation.”
An estimated 443 individuals were apprehended from the vessels, with several reports of assaults with water cannons. Israel stated that all detainees were “safe and in good health.”
Several nations have voiced apprehension over the situation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the interception in international seas was “contrary to international law and infringes upon the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was displayed on the numerous vessels in the flotilla.”
Turkey’s foreign ministry denounced the interception as an “act of terrorism” and demanded accountability for the “perpetrators of this attack.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has fired all remaining Israeli ambassadors from the nation in retaliation and condemned the interception as an “international crime by [Israel’s Prime Minister] Netanyahu.”
Petro also rescinded Colombia’s free trade pact with Israel, established in 2020, and demanded the return of two Colombians who were on the flotilla.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the effort to access Gaza, stating: “I maintain that this offers no advantage to the Palestinian people.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry released footage of Greta Thunberg seated on a boat’s deck, receiving water and a jacket from an Israeli military personnel. Israel said that detained activists are being transported to the port of Ashdod.
The Israeli government, which has characterised the effort to provide humanitarian goods to conflict-ridden Gaza as a “provocation,” stated: “Greta and her associates are safe and healthy.”
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, stated that Israel’s siege of Gaza is “unlawful” and asserted that the “decades-long impunity for Israel’s flagrant violations of international law must cease.”
Israel characterised the flotilla as “provocative vessels” and stated that one boat remained “at a distance” and would be intercepted if it neared.
The vessel identified as Marinette, according to the GSF, was still in communication and had six individuals aboard. The flotilla’s tracking system indicated that it was navigating in international seas, away from Gaza’s shoreline, on Thursday afternoon.
Israel asserted that none of the vessels breached the blockade zone; however, the GSF indicated that one of its boats, Mikeno, may have encroached within Gaza’s territorial waters, as per monitoring data, but remained uncommunicative.
Individuals have assembled in Greece, Italy, Germany, Tunisia, and Turkey to demonstrate against Israel’s interception of the flotilla. Its activities have elicited condemnation from Pakistan, Bolivia, and Malaysia.
Spontaneous rallies took place in many locations throughout Italy on Wednesday evening. The principal trade union CGIL has affirmed its support for a nationwide strike on Friday in solidarity with Gaza, citing the “abandonment” of Italian workers in open international waters by the Italian government.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged Israel to “immediately lift the blockade on Gaza and permit the entry of life-saving materials by all possible means,” emphasising the necessity for Israel to assist impartial humanitarian aid efforts “without obstruction.”
The UK Foreign Office stated it had spoken with the relatives of the British people aboard the vessels. It said that it has communicated with the Israeli authorities to “emphasise our expectation for a safe resolution of the situation”.
Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris described the claims as “concerning”. He expressed his expectation that Israel will adhere to international law, noting that at least seven Irish people are among those imprisoned, including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews.
The flotilla departed from Spain a month prior, comprising about 40 vessels and around 500 individuals, including European politicians, attorneys, and activists, with the stated intention of delivering supplies straight to Gaza.
Israel has thwarted two initiatives by activists to get assistance to Gaza via ship, which occurred in June and July.
The Israeli government has labelled the flotilla a “selfie yacht.” Still, Thunberg has countered this charge, stating to the media on Sunday: “I don’t believe anyone would jeopardise their life for a publicity stunt.”
International humanitarian organisations have been endeavouring to get food and medication to the Palestinian territories, but report that Israel is impeding the supply flow.
Israel asserts that it is endeavouring to prevent the supplies from reaching Hamas. The US and it have supported an alternate food distribution system, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which the UN has deemed immoral and “inherently unsafe.”
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an independent professional organisation supported by the UN, affirmed last month the existence of hunger in Gaza, attributing it directly to Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of help into the region, according to the UN’s humanitarian leader.
Netanyahu has denounced this as an “outright lie,” dismissing the proof provided by the IPC.
