International Waters (QNN)- Israel has intercepted 22 of the 58 boats traveling through international waters and bound to the besieged Gaza Strip as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Israeli forces have also kidnapped 175 of the 400 activists participating in the flotilla, in what organizers have condemned as an “act of piracy.”
The vessels were seized by Israeli forces late on Wednesday in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese Peninsula, hundreds of miles from Gaza, the flotilla’s organizers said on Thursday.
Israel “kidnapped” about 175 of the 400 activists taking part in the flotilla, including a Paris city councillor, according to the flotilla’s organizers.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said various vessels were “systematically disabled” after being raided, leaving activists stranded at sea.
“After smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays, the military retreated - intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm,” it said.
"Furthermore, communications with multiple vessels have been jammed, severing their ability to coordinate or signal for help.”
The seizure of the boats took place about 600 nautical miles from Gaza’s shores, off the coast of the Greek island of Crete.
Shortly before the raid, activists said they were approached by military speedboats identifying themselves as Israeli. Soldiers reportedly pointed lasers and semi-automatic weapons at those on board, ordering them to get on their hands and knees. They added that boat communications were being jammed.
An estimated 58 vessels carrying around 1,000 activists set out from Spain earlier this month, aiming to break the Israeli-imposed siege of the Gaza Strip while delivering humanitarian aid. It was described as the “largest coordinated civilian maritime mobilisation” by the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Here are some reactions to the Israeli attack on the flotilla:
Global Sumud Flotilla
The flotilla’s organizers condemned Israel’s seizure of its vessels.
“This is piracy,” they said in a statement. “This is the unlawful seizure of human beings on the open sea near Crete, an assertion that Israel can operate with total impunity, far beyond its own borders, with no consequences.”
“No state has the right to claim, police, or occupy international waters. Yet, that is exactly what Israel has done, extending its regime of control outward, occupying the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Europe,” the statement said.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International called for the immediate release of the detained activists.
“The crew of the intercepted vessels must be immediately and unconditionally released,” it said in a statement shared on social media.
“While in custody, the Israeli authorities must ensure that all activists are immediately granted access to consular support, treated humanely and protected from torture and other ill-treatment.”
Spain
Spain’s Foreign Ministry said it “energetically condemns” Israel’s seizure of the flotilla, which is carrying Spanish nationals.
Madrid has summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires to convey its protest against the detention of the vessels, the ministry added in a statement.
Turkey
Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s seizure of the boats in the flotilla as “an act of piracy.”
“By targeting the Global Sumud Flotilla, whose mission is to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the innocent people of Gaza, Israel has also violated humanitarian principles and international law,” the ministry said in a statement.
Hamas
In a post on Telegram, the Palestinian group Hamas condemned the interception, accusing Israel of committing a crime without accountability and calling for the release of those detained.
Germany
In a joint statement with Italy, Germany said it was following developments regarding the flotilla with “great concern” and called for international law to be respected and for “restraint from irresponsible actions”.
Italy
Italy called for the immediate release of Italian nationals on board the flotilla.
Italy “condemns the seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels … and calls on Israel to immediately release all the unlawfully detained Italians”, the government said in a statement.
Italy’s ANSA news agency cited sources among the organisers saying 24 Italians had been detained.
In its statement, the government also called for the “full respect of international law and guarantees on the physical safety of the people on board”.
It said it was “committed to continue supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza in the framework of our cooperation and in respect of international law”.
UN
The UN said Israel's interception of Global Sumud Flotilla 'extremely concerning,' urging compliance with international law, greater humanitarian access to Gaza.
Switzerland
Switzerland urged Israel to respect law after Gaza aid flotilla interception, according to Anadolu, adding that any action must follow 'principle of proportionality'
It also called for compliance with international law and 'fundamental rights' of activists and confirmed that 8 Swiss nationals are part of new flotilla.
