Desk Report:
Israeli forces have seized at least 39 boats from the Global Peace Flotilla, which was carrying foreign pro-Palestinian activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Organizers said on Thursday that only one boat was still sailing towards the Palestinian coast. However, the main fleet had lost contact with that boat.
Live video, verified by Reuters, showed Israeli soldiers wearing helmets and night vision goggles boarding the flotilla boats. The passengers were sitting in a crowded row, wearing life jackets and holding their hands up. A video released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry showed Thunberg sitting on the deck among the soldiers.
According to a tracker on the website of the organizers of the Global Peace Flotilla, one boat, the Mikeno, is still sailing. The Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote in X, “Some of the boats of the Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped. Their passengers are being taken to an Israeli port. Greta and her companions are safe and well.”
The flotilla crossed the Mediterranean Sea in late August and set off for Gaza. It includes more than 40 civilian vessels. About 500 lawmakers, lawyers and rights activists have taken part in it. The flotilla is mainly carrying medicine and food supplies. It is being seen as the largest symbolic initiative against the Israeli blockade.
The flotilla has attracted international attention during its journey in the Mediterranean. Countries such as Turkey, Spain and Italy have sent boats or drones to help their citizens in need. Although Israel has repeatedly warned from the beginning that the flotilla must turn back.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has called the attack a “terrorist act.” They said the lives of innocent civilians were at risk. The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office said it had opened an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens. They were charged with illegal detention, seizure of a transport vehicle and damage to property, Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu reported.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s entire diplomatic delegation on Wednesday. He also suspended a free trade agreement with Israel after two Colombians were detained on board the flotilla.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned Israel’s actions, saying that 23 Malaysians had been detained.
Israel has maintained a naval blockade against Hamas since it took control of Gaza in 2007. Since then, there have been several attempts to reach Gaza by sea. In 2010, Israeli forces attacked a flotilla of six boats, killing nine workers. At that time, there were 700 pro-Palestinian activists from 50 countries on the flotilla.
Greta Thunberg also tried to reach Gaza in June of this year. At that time, the Israeli navy detained her and 11 others from a small boat belonging to the pro-Palestinian organization called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Earlier, on October 7, 2023, a Hamas-led attack in Israel killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages to Gaza, according to Israel. Since then, more than 65,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military operation in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities.
