Israeli forces intercepted ships from the flotilla trying to bypass the Gaza blockade
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The Israeli military began intercepting several boats on Monday morning that are part of an airstrike trying to break into Gaza.
More than 50 ships left the port of Marmaris last week in what organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the last leg of their journey to the Gaza Strip.
The organization’s live broadcast showed activists on board several boats wearing life jackets and raising their hands before a boat carrying soldiers approached. Israeli soldiers in smart gear boarded the ship, and the live broadcast suddenly stopped. Many ships are currently off the coast of Cyprus.
An hour before the incident ended, Israel’s Foreign Ministry called on the activists to “change direction and go back immediately.”
“Once again, provocation for provocation: another so-called “humanitarian flotilla” without humanitarian aid,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in X.
The Israeli military declined to comment on the ongoing operation.
Organizers said the boats were intercepted 250 miles off the coast of Gaza. Unlike previous blockades, which took place under the cover of night, Israeli soldiers boarded the boats in broad daylight.
The blockade has been in place for 18 years, long before the latest war in Gaza.
Israel and Egypt, which border Gaza in the south, imposed restrictions after taking over from Hamas in 2007, seeking to prevent the group from smuggling weapons. Since then, Israel has controlled Gaza’s airspace and coastline, and restricted the movement of goods and people in and out of the area.
Some critics see it as collective punishment.
About 20 boats were intercepted last month
On April 30, Israeli forces intercepted more than 20 boats from the flotilla near the southern Greek island of Crete, initially holding about 175 activists. Israeli officials said they had to act early because of the high number of boats involved.
Israel took two activists – Spanish-Swedish citizen of Palestinian origin, Saif Abukeshek, and Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila – back to Israel, where they were interrogated and detained for several days. Activists accused Israel of torture, which Israel denies. Brazil and Spain have criticized Israel for “kidnapping” its citizens. The two were deported to Israel after about a week of detention.
Organizers said the latest efforts involved reassembled vessels joined by other boats. About 500 activists from 45 countries participated.
Israel intercepted 50 aid ships bound for Gaza in international waters near Greece, organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said.
The activists’ attempt comes less than a year after Israeli authorities thwarted the group’s previous attempt to reach Gaza. That effort involved about 50 ships and about 500 activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers.
Israel arrested, detained and later deported the participants, who alleged that Israeli authorities tortured them during their detention. Israeli authorities have denied the allegations.
Israel’s action has raised questions about what country can legally enforce a blockade of international waters. Many world leaders and human rights organizations have condemned Israel, saying it violates international law.
Previous attempts to break the embargo have also failed.
In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was participating in an aid flotilla trying to reach Gaza. Nine Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American on board were killed. The last time an activist boat successfully reached Gaza was in 2008.
Flotilla draws attention to the situation in Gaza
The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is still fragile, and the top diplomat in charge of the organization says it is stuck because of the tension over Hamas withdrawal.
Both sides traded accusations of infringement. Gaza has seen Israeli fire almost daily, with more than 850 people killed in the Palestinian territory since the operation began in October, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The ministry says Israel’s retaliatory strikes in the war have devastated Palestinian land and killed more than 72,700 people.
Flotillas have been criticized for providing little assistance to smaller ships.
The Israel Defense Forces, which oversees humanitarian aid to Gaza, says sufficient aid is flowing into Gaza, with about 600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entering Gaza every day, similar to pre-war levels.
Nevertheless, Gaza’s nearly two million residents are still living with severe shortages of housing, food and medicine.
Flotilla organizers say they hope their latest effort to reach Gaza will help highlight the living conditions endured by Palestinians in the area, especially as global attention has focused on the US-Israel war with Iran.
