Jerusalem (AP) – Israeli naval soldiers board most ships and detain dozens of activists Fleets attempting to break Israeli Gaza blockade. Organizers said one boat was able to sail, but contact with the ship was lost before it stopped near the Gaza coast on Thursday morning.
Global SUMUD FLOTILLA By Thursday morning, the Israeli operation that began the night before was supposed to have been intercepted or assumed by Thursday morning.
Unlike previous sea attempts, this fleet was the largest and largest that had not attempted to break Israel’s Gaza blockade. Activists said they believe it would be more difficult for Israeli authorities to intercept them all with a huge number of boats.
The organizers remained in contact with the two ships, one expecting Israeli forces to board it imminently. They also lost contact with one remaining boat, which showed that the final coordinates were only a few miles from the coast of Gaza and only a few miles from the sea within the territory.
Fleet supporters took them to the streets of several major cities late Wednesday after news of intercepts broke. Rome, Naples, Istanbul, Athens, Buenos Aires – Condemn Israel’s actions Ongoing attack on Israel in the Gaza Strip. More protests were expected around the world on Thursday. Italy’s biggest union called for a one-day general strike on Friday.
Seeing a fleet of boats carrying activists from dozens of countries and a symbolic amount of humanitarian assistance sailing towards Gaza, as they try to break Israeli blockades.
The fleet, starting with more than 40 boats and 500 activists, carried a symbolic amount of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
I was streaming my voyage online Aboard various boats and via live camerasthough the connections were lost as Israeli authorities began intercepting them in international waters on Wednesday evening.
Activists and European lawmakers have been detained
Israeli soldiers detained and removed dozens of activists. Greta Sambergformer mayor of Barcelona Ada Korou, and member of the European Parliament, Lima Hassan – from the fleet.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted photos and videos of activists in a statement X, stating that they would be “safe and healthy” and that they would be moved to Israel for deportation procedures to Europe.
Previously, it was broadcast live overnight by activists, showing Israeli boats approaching the container, spraying water canons, and flashing bright lights before the soldiers boarded the fleet.
Anticipating an intercept, the activists in life jackets sat in circles and raised their hands in the air. Some were able to live stream moments from their phones before throwing their devices into the ocean.
The overnight operation that continued as a sun rose seemed almost peaceful.
Governments around the world condemn the intercept of fleets
It condemned the intercept of Israeli fleets, including Türkiye, Colombia, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Italy and France have warned activists not to continue their journey and avoid conflict with Israel, but have said they are working with Israeli diplomatic authorities to ensure that citizens are transferred to the land and are being treated promptly and peacefully at home.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday denounced Italian unions for their decision to call a general strike in solidarity with the fleet on Friday, accusing them of calling for massive disruption across the country.
“I continue to believe that this will not benefit the Palestinians, while I understand that it will bring many problems to Italian citizens,” Meloni told reporters when she arrived in Copenhagen.
Turkish Foreign Ministry deemed the intercept as “terrorist acts” and a strict violation of international law in a statement in a statement later Wednesday. The ministry said it is working to ensure the immediate release of Turkish citizens and other activists detained by Israeli forces.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced late Wednesday that his government would oust Israeli diplomatic delegation in South American countries over intercept. Two Colombians are taking part in the fleet.
Peter repeatedly described Israel’s siege of Gaza as genocide, and in May 2024 he broke diplomatic ties with Israel in the Israel-Hamas War.
Colombian leaders also said he said it was a “new international crime” for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry also condemned Israel’s interception on Thursday, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to the lives of civilians. He added that Activist detention was part of Israel’s “continuous attacks,” and that Israel’s blockade of Gaza caused “immense suffering” for more than 2 million Palestinians on the strip.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, a powerful supporter of the Palestinians, said Israel’s actions to block the fleet from reaching the Gaza show “are completely empty not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world.”
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Brito reported from Barcelona, Spain.
