A last ship in the International Gaza Aid flotilla continues its early trip this Friday, October 3, according to the organizers, after the interception of about forty ships by Israel, which is preparing to expel the proportive activists traveling on board.
“The Marinette is still sailing,” said the flotilla on Thursday night on social networks, which adds to an upcoming interception. “He knows what awaits him,” the organization said.
The boat was approximately 150 km from the Gaza coast at 03:50 am French time, depending on the shared geolocation on the flotilla site. “If you approach, your attempt to enter an active combat zone and break the blockade will also be avoided,” the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.
More than 400 activists aboard 41 flotilla ships were arrested during an operation of approximately twelve hours, said an Israeli official on Thursday night. They were “safely transferred to the port of Ashdod to be treated by the Israeli police,” added anonymity.
The Sumud Global Flotilla, which included political and militant figures such as the Swedish Greta Thunberg, was part of Spain in September to break the blockade imposed by Israel in the Gaza Strip. The flotilla is presented as a “peaceful and non -violent mission of humanitarian aid.”
“Act of intimidation”
Israel announced Thursday morning that passengers, all “healthy and sounds”, would be expelled to Europe. On Wednesday night, the Israeli Navy began to intercept the ships after warning the crews that entered in waters whose Israel claims control.
“I congratulate the soldiers and commanders of the Navy who fulfilled their mission during Yom Kippur in the most professional and effective way,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement.
Global Sumud (“Resilience”, in Arabic) denounced “an illegal attack” that occurred in international waters, the organization of the amnesty of international human rights deplitting an “act of intimidation” of Israel.
Eleven Greek participants began a hunger strike to protest against their “illegal arrest,” according to the organizers of the flotilla. The Islamist Movement Hamas, whose attack against Israel on October 7, 2023 caused the war in the Gaza Strip, called the interception of the “crime of piracy.”
International reactions
The event aroused scathing reactions from certain countries like Türkiye, which accused Israel of committing “an act of terrorism.” The Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, announced the expulsion of the Israeli diplomatic delegation in his country.
Italy and Spain had sent military vessels to escort it in a part of the fleets of the route after “drone attacks” on the night of September 23 to 24, denounced by the UN and the European Union.
In June and July, the Israeli Navy had already arrested two sailboats who were heading to Gaza, with Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan on board. Both landed in Israel and then expelled.
Source: BFM TV
