Israeli Military Forcefully Intercepts Gaza Aid Flotilla

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 1st, saying that the Israeli navy intercepted and boarded several vessels in the Mediterranean Sea attempting to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza that evening.

The statement pointed out that the military “safely intercepted” several ships and is currently transferring the people onboard to Israeli ports; upon arrival in Israel, they will be deported. Among them are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her companions.

The military stated that it had “warned” the flotilla multiple times beforehand to change course via radio and other means.

Earlier in the day, a video released by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed an Israeli navy officer telling flotilla members via radio: “You are approaching a blockade area. If you wish to provide aid to Gaza, you may do so through established channels. Please change course to (Israeli) Ashdod Port, where aid materials will be inspected before being transported to Gaza.”

On the other hand, organizers of the “Global Resilience Flotilla” said Israeli soldiers boarded three of the flotilla’s vessels, one of which was “deliberately rammed” by Israel. Israeli forces also attacked several other ships with high-pressure water cannons, but fortunately, there were no casualties.

Some activists on one of the ships threw their phones into the sea as the Israeli military boarded.

According to The Times of Israel, the “Global Resilience Flotilla” is composed of 47 vessels and more than 500 activists in total. The Israeli side accused some leading participants of having links with Hamas.

The military jammed the flotilla’s communications first on the night of the 1st, then boarded the ships before midnight.

On the night of the 1st, Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that the Israeli military’s interception of the “Global Resilience Flotilla” on the high seas is an “act of terrorism,” a serious violation of international law, and endangers innocent civilian lives.

In a statement, Hamas said that the Israeli military’s interception of the Gaza aid flotilla constitutes an “act of piracy and maritime terrorism targeting civilians.”