Desk Report:
Israel has seized almost all of the ships carrying aid from Europe to Gaza in Palestine. Israeli forces are detaining all the rights activists on these ships. On Thursday, protests broke out in various European countries, including France and Italy, due to Israel’s intervention. Protesters are strongly criticizing the government’s silence. Various countries have strongly condemned Israel’s intervention.
The Palestinian independence organization Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. Since then, the Gaza Strip has been under siege. Hamas last attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel then launched a counterattack on the same day. As a result, Israel imposed control over the relief supply system. Even the UN relief fleet is being prevented from entering there. Israeli forces have even opened fire on relief workers and civilians going to receive relief. In this situation, several organizations, including the UN, have been warning of famine in Gaza for some time. However, Israel has not responded to this. The Global Freedom Flotilla, an international non-profit organization, was formed in the middle of this year to free the people of Gaza from this blockade.
This flotilla consists of 43 ships. Relief is being taken for the people of Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, these ships have about 500 volunteers from 44 countries. Among them are politicians, environmentalists, and human rights activists from different countries.
Ever since the Global Freedom Flotilla announced that it would bring relief to the people of Gaza, Israel has been saying that they will not allow any relief to enter there. This relief must be handed over to Israel. In this situation, the relief ships set off from a port in Spain on August 31. However, they faced obstacles from Israeli forces at various times along the way. According to Al Jazeera, drone attacks were carried out on these ships off the coast of Tunisia on September 8 and 9. Then, another attack was carried out on the coast of Greece on September 23. However, no significant damage was caused in these attacks. After such attacks, the ships continued to move towards the Gaza coast. Despite Israel’s warnings, the flotilla said that they would deliver the relief to the people of Gaza.
What’s happening since Wednesday
The ships were about 150 kilometers away from the Israeli coast last Wednesday. At that time, new tensions arose. On Wednesday night, at around 12:00 Bangladesh time, more than 40 warships of the Israeli Navy surrounded the flotilla ships. Since then, the Israeli forces have been seizing ships one after another and detaining human rights activists. By noon yesterday, Al Jazeera reported that at least 200 people, including Swedish human rights activist Greta Thunberg, have already been detained from one of its ships. The video shows Israeli forces firing water cannons at the human rights activists before boarding the relief ship.
Israel has said that these human rights activists and ships are being taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Then, at 8 pm yesterday, another update from Al Jazeera said that Israel has already seized 40 ships in the flotilla. These ships are being taken to Israeli ports and the activists are being detained. The Israeli military said that the detainees will be sent back to Europe.
Israel condemns, summons, protests
Meanwhile, after blocking the aid ships, various countries have strongly condemned Israel’s decision. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that blocking these ships is tantamount to piracy. He also said that the genocidal Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) government does not want to leave even the slightest chance for peace. The Global Peace Flotilla has once again shown the world the brutality of Gaza and the murderous face of Israel.
Qatar has condemned Israel in this incident. They have called for the immediate release of these activists. The European Green Party, a political party in Europe, has condemned the incident. They say that Israel’s move is a violation of international law. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that Israel has committed a serious crime through this. Malaysian Prime Minister Ibrahim Anwar condemned Israel in this incident. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Israel’s barbarity should end. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called Israel’s actions an international crime. In addition, he has expelled Israeli diplomats in the country.
Meanwhile, the country’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot has summoned the Israeli ambassador to Belgium over the seizure of the flotilla’s ships and the detention of rights activists. He said that the seizure of the ships is unacceptable. Spain has also summoned the Israeli diplomat in the country.
Protests have taken place in various European countries after the flotilla’s ships were blocked. The biggest protests were held in Italy and France yesterday. Protests were led by labor unions in major cities including Rome, Pisa, Florence, and Turin in Italy. In addition, labor unions have called for a strike today, Friday. Protests were also held in Germany, Greece, and Belgium. Thousands of people participated in these protests.
European leaders are silent
According to a report by Euro News, one of the leading European media outlets, European leaders are silent even after Israel seized the flotilla ships. The two top officials of the Union, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, have avoided the issue. European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas is silent on this. In addition, the US government has not commented on this. The leaders of the United Kingdom are also silent. Meanwhile, the Italian Prime MinisterForeign Minister and right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni has instead criticized the seizure of the flotilla’s ships, saying it could derail the peace process.
