New escalation of tension in the Mediterranean. This Monday, Israel intercepted around thirty vessels of the so-called , an international mission that was trying to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid to break the naval blockade imposed by the Israeli Government since 2007.
The operation took place in international waters near Cyprus and has provoked a strong international diplomatic reaction, including a formal protest from the Spanish Government.
According to the participating organizations, the interception began around 10:30 Turkish time (7:30 GMT), when several ships were boarded about 250 nautical miles from Gaza.
Spain denounces a “new violation of international law”
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that between ten and twenty Spaniards traveling on the flotilla would have been detained by the Israeli authorities.
In addition, he announced the summons of the Israeli charge d’affaires in Spain, Dana Erlich, to convey a “formal and energetic protest” about what happened.
The expedition was made up of 52 ships from different European countries and organized by several international platforms, including the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Sumud Flotilla and the Turkish Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association.
Organizers say Israel has intercepted at least between 31 and 35 vessels, although the balance remains unclear.
Spanish, Italian and Irish activists held
Among the captured activists there would be at least six Spaniards, nine Italians and six Irish, including Catherine Connolly, sister of the president of Ireland and former leftist deputy.
The Freedom Flotilla also reported that the Israeli Armed Forces informed the activists that they would be transferred to a “prison ship” before being taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
The flotilla had left on April 15 from Barcelona and had already suffered a first partial interception on April 30 in international waters south of Greece, when the Israeli Navy disabled 22 ships and transferred some 175 activists to Crete.
Netanyahu congratulates the Israeli Navy
Far from lowering the tone, the Israeli Prime Minister, on Monday, publicly congratulated the naval unit in charge of the operation.
“They are foiling a malicious plan designed to break the isolation we are imposing on Hamas terrorists in Gaza,” the Israeli leader said during a conversation with the fleet commander.
For its part, Hamas described the Israeli action as a “crime of piracy.”
Eleven countries condemn the operation
Hours after the interception, the foreign ministers of Spain, Turkey, Brazil, Colombia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Jordan, Bangladesh, Libya, Maldives and Turkey published a joint statement condemning it.
In it they rejected “in the strongest terms” the attacks against the flotilla and denounced that these actions constitute “flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law.”
The signatories also demanded the “immediate release” of all detained activists and asked the international community to act against what they consider a repeated pattern of attacks against civilian and humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean.
