More than 160 activists aboard aid ships forming a flotilla bound for Gaza have been taken to the Greek island of Crete after Israeli forces seized their vessels in international waters near Greece earlier this week, Freedom Flotilla organizers have said.
The organizers told Reuters on Friday that 168 members of the flotilla crew had been taken to Crete while two activists remained with Israeli authorities. According to the group’s tracker, 22 boats have been intercepted so far by Israel, while 47 others are still sailing.
On Wednesday, Israeli military forces intercepted the boats traveling with the Global Sumud Flotilla from Barcelona, using drones, communications jamming technology, and armed raiding parties to halt the humanitarian fleet in the middle of the Mediterranean as it headed to Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the activists on the intercepted boats would be taken to Greece. On Friday, an Israeli army ship transferred 168 members of the flotilla crew to Greek boats, which then took them to Crete, where buses and an ambulance car waited.
A source told Reuters that the remaining 47 boats at sea were still sailing off southern Crete and planned to anchor there before continuing to Gaza. Each ship is carrying about a tonne of food, medical supplies, and other equipment.
Gur Tsabar, a spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, described Israel’s boarding of its vessels as “a straight-up attack on unarmed civilian boats in international waters,” calling it illegal under international law.
Officials around the globe have condemned the interception as a violation of international law, with Turkey calling it an “act of piracy” and Spain labeling it “illegal.” Germany and Italy expressed “great concern” and called for the release of detainees.
However, the US State Department threatened “to impose consequences” against those who support the flotilla, which it cast as “pro-Hamas.” Pro-Palestinian activists say Israel and the US wrongly conflate their advocacy with support for Hamas.
Last October, Israel intercepted about 40 boats from the first Global Sumud Flotilla, arresting over 450 participants, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Greta Thunberg, and MEP Rima Hassan. Detainees claimed they were subjected to physical and psychological abuse in Israeli custody.
Source: www.aljazeera.com