TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli forces intercepted a fleet of nine ships in the Mediterranean early Wednesday Trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza And scores of activists on board were detained, Flotilla organizers and Israel’s Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry said 145 healthy activists were taken to Israeli shores for processing and are expected to be deported soon.
The interception came after nearly 450 activists, including European lawmakers and climate activist Greta Samberg. intercepted by more than 40 boats Last week, a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid attempted to reach Gaza.
Its interception of the global sumud flotilla elicited widespread condemnation and caused huge protests in some major cities and a One day strike across Italy.
Organizers of this latest nine infiltration group – made up of the Freedom Floatilla Coalition and the Thousand Madleans from Gaza – denounced the detentions on Wednesday as “arbitrary and illegal”. Activists on board included a doctor, a politician, and three Turkish parliamentarians. The fleet was carrying some food and medical aid destined for Gaza hospitals.
“Another futile attempt to enter a combat zone that violated a legitimate naval blockade and ended nothing,” the Foreign Ministry wrote about the X.
Organizers said the boat was intercepted about 120 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. In intercepted footage released by organizers, the fleet’s boats were approached by fast-moving ships, which then boarded Israeli troops. No injuries were reported.
Some of the deported activists from the fleet last week were explaining Abuse at the hands of Israeli security guardswhich Israel denies.
The fleet from Gaza to Gaza came inside. sharpens criticism of Israel’s actions in Gazaattacks in the war with Hamas have destroyed large swaths of territory and killed tens of thousands of people.
Israel and Hamas are currently in Third day of indirect negotiations in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm Al Sheikh with high-level leaders from international delegations including the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye.
The war was sparked by a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. That day, the militants killed about 1,200 people, while 251 people were abducted. 48 hostages are still being held in Gaza. About 20 people are believed to be alive.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s subsequent campaign has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and whose figures are considered by experts to be the most reliable estimates, says women and children account for half of the deaths.
Israel has maintained varying degrees of blockade in the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized power in the coastal territory in 2007, saying it needed to contain the extremist group. Critics derive this policy from collective punishment.
After the war began, Israel tightened its blockade, but it was later eased under US pressure. In March, it sealed off the territory from all food, medicine, and other goods for 2.5 months, contributing to Gaza’s slide toward famine.
The fleet says they want to break the Israeli blockade and establish a humanitarian corridor at sea.
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Brito reported from Barcelona, Spain. Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.
