Israel has once again intercepted activist boats carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. As on other occasions, the vessels were intercepted in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, now, they were in the vicinity of the Island of Crete, part of Greece.
The boats had left Catania in Italy on April 26 and were intercepted on Wednesday night (29), still hundreds of kilometers away from Gaza. According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, more than 150 activists were captured.
Among the detainees who were taken to Israel are four Brazilians: Thiago Ávila, internationalist activist and member of the International Steering Committee of the GSF (Global Sumud Flotilla); Amanda Coelho Marzall, known as Mandi Coelho, activist for the PSTU, part of the international workers’ league and pre-candidate for the position of federal deputy for São Paulo; Leandro Lanfredi de Andrade, oil worker at Petrobras Transporte, director of SindiPetro-RJ and the National Federation of Oil Workers, and Thainara Rogério.
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According to Global Sumud Flotilla, another Brazilian, Beatriz Moreira de Oliveira, a member of the Movement of People Affected by Dams, is on board the Amazona boat, which managed to evade the Israeli occupation forces until it entered Greek territorial waters. The coordinators of Global Sumud Brasil, who were on board the SAF SAF boat, Lisi Proença and Ariadne Teles, who disembarked in Sicily (Italy) to help with the work of the ground team, also escaped.
In a statement, the group said that the action involves piracy and the illegal capture of human beings. “This is an assertion that Israel can operate with complete impunity, far beyond its own borders.”
Images released by the group show Israelis approaching the ship, and the crew with life jackets and hands up. All were taken to Israeli vessels.
In October last year, the Israeli military boarded an organization flotilla and arrested more than 450 participants, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
Wanted by Infomoneythe Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet responded whether it is following the case and what the situation of Brazilians is.
*With information from Agência Brasil.
