Israel Intercepts Vessels of Global Sumud Flotilla
The Wire Staff
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New Delhi: Israeli forces have arrested activists on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The Flotilla was heading to the Gaza Strip with essential aid being denied to people by Israel, which has been conducting genocidal attacks by land and air in the region for the last two years.
Initially news reports said that Israel has intercepted 13 boats while about two dozen activist vessels carrying aid were still sailing towards besieged Gaza. Now, it appears as if most vessels have been blocked.
Cameras broadcasting live feeds from the boats, verified by Reuters, showed Israeli soldiers sporting helmets and night vision goggles boarding the ships, while passengers huddled together in life vests with their hands up.
The X account Quds News Network has posted saying that one vessel, Mikeno, has successfully broken through Israeli blockade and reached Palestinian waters for the first time in a historic development.
Israel's foreign ministry noted two hours ago through its X account, "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 UK, Australia Turkey, Brazil and Pakistan are among countries that have criticised this latest move by Israel. Spain has summoned Israel’s top representative in Madrid.
Al Jazeera reports that the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation after Israeli naval commandos arrested Turkish citizens on board the Gaza aid flotilla.
The Palestine government also condemned Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla, and said it was in "violation of international law and norms, including Convention on the Law of the Sea, other humanitarian principles, and the human rights of the participants on board."
“The State of Palestine recalls that the Global Sumud Flotilla is a peaceful and civilian-led initiative aimed at breaking Israel’s inhumane and illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip and put an end to Israel’s starvation policy and genocide, in accordance with international law,” the ministry said.
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