Israel intercepted at least seven humanitarian aid vessels bound for Gaza in international waters near Greece, flotilla organizers said on Thursday (30), denouncing the action as an “escalation of Israel’s impunity.”
A second flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza departed the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12, with the aim of attempting to . The vessels were seized by Israel hundreds of kilometers from Gaza, said the organizers, the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“Communication with 11 vessels has been lost and Israeli media claims that 7 boats have been intercepted. Governments must act now to protect the flotilla, hold Israel accountable for these flagrant violations of international law and for Israel’s ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people,” Global Sumud Flotilla posted on X.
israeli military boats have illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and threatened kidnapping and violence.
Communications with 11 vessels have been lost and israeli media claims that 7 boats have been intercepted. Governments must act now to protect the…
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla)
Footage from onboard security cameras showed crew members with their arms raised as Israeli forces boarded the vessel. In an audio message transmitted to the ship before the interception, the Israeli military warned passengers that violating the sea blockade constituted a transgression of international law and advised them to redirect humanitarian aid through the port of Ashdod.
INTERCEPTION HAPPENING NOW
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla)
The one from Global Sumud Flotilla shows that the ships were intercepted at sea, off the coast of Greece.
Israel has begun to take control of humanitarian aid ships bound for Gaza, far from the Israeli coast, according to a source cited by army radio on Wednesday (29). Global Sumud Flotilla confirmed in a statement that its ships were .
Flotilla organizers condemned the action as illegal, saying no state has the right to police international waters. Israel’s envoy to the UN said that the flotilla was intercepted before reaching Israeli territory, defending the military’s actions.
