Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla

AFP | Jerusalem

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More than 400 pro-Palestinian activists aboard 41 vessels in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were detained yesterday by Israeli naval forces.

“In an operation that lasted roughly 12 hours, Israeli Navy personnel foiled a large-scale incursion attempt by hundreds of individuals aboard 41 vessels that had declared their intention to breach the legal maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip,” an Israeli official said.

“At the end of the operation more than some 400 participants were safely transferred to Ashdod port for processing by the Israel police.”

Deportation

Israel said yesterday it will deport to Europe the pro-Palestinian activists as the Israeli navy intercepted vessel after vessel in the Mediterranean.

The Global Sumud Flotilla of around 45 vessels began its voyage to Gaza last month, with politicians and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg aiming to break Israel’s siege of the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations says famine has set in.

The Israeli navy began intercepting vessels on Wednesday after warning the activists against entering waters it says fall under its blockade, with Thunberg’s ship among those stopped from going further.

By yesterday, of the roughly 45 ships, more than 30 had been intercepted or were assumed to have been intercepted, according to the flotilla’s tracking system.

“Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health,” the foreign ministry said on X, posting photos of Thunberg and other activists aboard a boat.

Flotilla spokesman Saif Abukeshek said the vessels that had not been intercepted were determined to continue.

“They are determined. They are motivated, and they are doing everything within their hands to be able to break the siege by this early morning,” he said.

In a statement, the flotilla organisers branded the interceptions as “illegal” since they were traversing international waters.

“Beyond the confirmed interceptions, live streams and communications with several other vessels have been lost,” the statement added.