Desk Report:
The Global Solidarity Flotilla, a humanitarian flotilla of 44 countries headed to Gaza, has been surrounded by Israeli warships in international waters. The flotilla consists of more than 45 ships.
One of them is named after Al Jazeera journalist Shirin Abu Akleh.
“This humanitarian mission has come face to face with Israeli forces at sea. We have received reports that some of the ships have been surrounded by military forces. The internet connection to some of them has been cut off. However, we are still receiving video from some of the ships,” Saif Abukeshq, a spokesman for the Global Solidarity Flotilla (GSF), told Al Jazeera.
Saif added that the ships in the flotilla have also been warned by Israeli forces. “We have been informed that providing humanitarian aid in this way is illegal. This is not surprising.” The entire policy of the Israeli government is to starve the population to death.
The organizers had planned to ensure that at least some of the ships would reach the Gaza coast. But the Israeli military told them that all aid would have to be delivered through Israel’s designated channels.
Israel says the blockade is being enforced by military order. However, the participants in the flotilla say that a genocide is taking place in Gaza and that famine and starvation are being used as weapons of war. Therefore, despite all the obstacles, they are determined to reach Gaza.
Human rights activists say that blocking a flotilla that was heading from international waters to the Palestinian coast is illegal under international law.
