The, composed of dozens of vessels that came out from Spanish coasts, has denounced on Tuesday to have been subject to new attacks by Israel after rejecting, hours before, transferring the humanitarian aid that transports to the Gaza Strip. In a message posted in their profiles of social networks, activists claim to be the objective of the tactics of psychological harassment practiced by Israelis, with “explosions, unidentified drones and interference in communications” of vessels.
According to the organization, these Israel maneuvers are part of the reprisals they had already announced for refusing to dock in the port of Ascalón, on the northern border of the strip, to deliver the humanitarian aid that leads to Gaza, according to the Netanyahu government. “The extremes that Israel and its allies are willing to arrive to prolong the horrors of famine and genocide in Gaza are disgusting,” they write in the statement, where they emphasize that “our determination is stronger than ever.”
The flotilla insists that these types of attacks constitute psychological operations aimed at intimidating its crew. “These tactics will not dissuade us from our mission to deliver help to Gaza and break the illegal siege. Any attempt to intimidate only reinforces our commitment,” they point out in the statement. The message concludes with a warning: “They will not silence us. We will continue to browse.”
The new attack on the flotilla that goes to Gaza occurs just 24 hours after the organization accused Israel of wanting to deliberately obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance with its proposal of diversion to Ascalón. For activists, that approach is not neutral, but a strategy aimed at controlling, delaying or even preventing the arrival of food and medicines to the strip.
Israel -free accusations
For its part, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has reiterated that any attempt to break the blockade will be prevented. In his opinion, the refusal of the flotilla to download in Ascalón “shows the lack of sincerity of its members and its mission of serving Hamas, instead of the people of Gaza.” Israel argues that the Israeli port is “the peaceful and not violent form” of channeling the aid and has promised to “do everything possible” for guaranteeing the safety of passengers if it takes measures to stop it.
This Monday, the Israel Foreign Ministry claimed that the “Flotilla to Gaza is openly supported by the jihadist group Hamás,” he wrote in his X account, where he called it “jihadist initiative” at the service of Hamas’s interests. In that message, the Israeli government said Hamas has called for all means to support the journey to Gaza. Meanwhile, the organizers denounced the presence of “multiple drones” near their ships and recalled that they had already suffered two similar attacks during their scale in Tunisia, without causing victims or material damage.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares warned Israel that Spain will respond to any act that “violates” the freedom of movement of the Sumud flotilla, as well as its freedom of expression and international law. In a statement, he said that activists will have “all diplomatic and consular protection” and recalled that last week Spain joined 15 other countries in a joint statement in which “abstention of any illegal or violent act against the flotilla” and respect for international humanitarian law.
That statement, signed by Türkiye, Brazil, Ireland, South Africa or Mexico, warned that attacks against ships in international waters or illegal arrests will be responded with “accountability.” After the last incident with drones in Tunisian waters, José Manuel Albares ordered the Spanish ambassador to Tunisia to contact the crew and investigate the facts. After these incidents, United Nations experts urged Israel to “cease all damage threats” against the expedition and warned that any attempt to block it would constitute “a serious violation of international law and humanitarian principles.”
The blockade as a backdrop
The episode of the flotilla arrives just 24 hours after the organization accused Israel of wanting to deliberately obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance with its proposal of diversion to Ascalón. For activists, that approach is not neutral, but a strategy aimed at controlling, delaying or even preventing the arrival of food and medicines to the strip.
Since May, Israel has allowed the entry of an average of 70 daily trucks to Gaza, when the United Nations agencies estimate that they are needed between 500 and 600 to meet the basic needs of the population. For the flotilla, that data demonstrates that the naval and terrestrial blockade constitutes a political tool rather than a security measure, something that UN researchers have already described as part of the “genocide in progress in Gaza.”
The Global Sumud flotilla is formed by half a hundred vessels and brings together activists, politicians, journalists and doctors of more than forty nationalities. This is the largest initiative of this type since in 2010 the so -called Fleeta de la Libertad began, which on successive occasions was intercepted by Israel on the high seas and whose participants ended up deported or imprisoned.
