Israeli naval forces on Monday began intercepting vessels of the “Global Sumud Flotilla” attempting to break the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of kilometres from Israel’s coastline, in international waters, activists are being transferred to a so-called “floating prison” and taken to the port of Ashdod. Turkey has condemned the operation as “piracy” and demanded the immediate release of all detainees.
Naval operation hundreds of kilometres from shore
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have commenced an operation to stop the “Sumud Flotilla” in international waters, hundreds of kilometres from the Israeli coast. The vessels set sail several days ago from the Turkish coastal city of Marmaris. Activists will be moved to a special vessel – described as a “floating prison” – and subsequently taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
Shortly before the interception began, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the flotilla’s participants to “change course and turn back.” A security source told media that Israel was “prepared for any scenario,” as “resistance to arrest is expected,” and “the use of cold weapons is possible.”
Jerusalem dismisses flotilla as a “provocation”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the latest move by the “Sumud Flotilla” as a provocation aimed at “distracting attention from Hamas’s refusal to disarm.” The last time Israeli forces intercepted a pro-Palestinian flotilla heading for the Gaza coast was at the end of April.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned Israel’s intervention in international waters against the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” which it said was delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a written statement, the ministry described the intervention as “a new act of piracy” and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained participants.
The statement stressed that the flotilla represented an example of international solidarity, noting that the vessels carried citizens from nearly 40 countries. “Israel’s attacks and policy of intimidation will in no way be able to prevent the international community from seeking justice and solidarity with the Palestinian people,” the Turkish foreign ministry said.
