The international flotilla headed to Gaza was intercepted and more than 200 activists onboard arrested.
Photo Credit: Global Sumud Flotilla via Instagram
ISRAELI Navy forces have intercepted almost two dozen ships from a Gaza-bound international flotilla, and detained more than 200 people onboard, including famed Swedish climate and humanitarian activist Greta Thunberg. The forces ordered the flotilla to change course with the reasoning that they were heading into an active war zone and violating a lawful naval blockade. The activists were sailing toward Gaza with the aim of bringing humanitarian aid and attempting to break the Israeli blockade.
On the evening of Wednesday, October 1, the Global Sumud Flotilla, or GSF, said through an Instagram post that Israeli forces had boarded three of its vessels. “High alert. Our vessels are being illegally intercepted,” said the post. “Cameras are offline and vessels have been boarded by military personnel. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all participants on board.”
On the morning of Thursday, October 2, the flotilla was 46 nautical miles from their destination, but as it neared the Gaza strip, Israeli forces intercepted at least 20 ships and arrested the activists. The detained are being transported to Israeli ports.
Organisers said 20 ships in the flotilla have been intercepted as of Thursday morning, in what the Turkish Foreign Ministry called a “terrorist act” that endangered the lives of the civilians onboard. Nearly 20 more ships are still sailing onwards.
The flotilla, upon which sailed nearly 500 activists including lawyers, lawmakers, and human rights advocates, had been on its journey for more than a month on the Mediterranean Sea seeking to bring aid to the Palestinian enclave, ravaged by widespread hunger.
