Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Flotilla in Broad Daylight

Israel began illegally intercepting vessels from a peaceful humanitarian mission attempting to deliver aid to Gaza on Monday.

“Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IOF forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight,” organisers from the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement.

“We demand safe passage for our legal, non-violent humanitarian mission. Governments must act now to stop these illegal acts or piracy meant to maintain Israel’s genocidal siege on Gaza. Normalization of the occupation’s violence is a threat to us all.”

At least one boat has already lost contact “after reportedly being attacked in the Mediterranean” around 250 nautical miles from Gaza, they said. 

“This military encirclement marks the commencement of another illegal, high-seas aggression four days after 54 civilian vessels lifted anchor from
Marmaris to establish a humanitarian corridor and break Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza,” they added.

Monday’s interception comes after 22 boats were intercepted near Greece on 29 April, when hundreds of activists were beaten and some were sexually assaulted, before being handed to Greek authorities and deported.

Organisers Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila were detained for ten days and tortured in an Israeli prison.

Since that interception, the mission has regrouped and added more vessels, and the remaining boats have stayed largely within Greek and Turkish waters. Around 50 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla, and five organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, entered international waters on Sunday for the final leg of their journey to Gaza.