On Thursday, Israeli naval forces intercepted 39 vessels belonging to an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, taking dozens of activists into custody, among them the global climate activist and several European lawmakers, The Associated Press stated.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which commenced its journey across the Mediterranean with over 40 boats and roughly 500 activists, constituted the largest attempt to date to breach Israel’s blockade of the enclave, the AP reported.
Subsequently, the flotilla has diminished to a sole vessel still making its way toward Gaza. Organizers from the Global Sumud Flotilla stated on X that the boat was last observed just a few miles from Gaza’s coast before communication ceased. Activists informed the AP they thought the flotilla’s large size would hinder Israeli forces from intercepting every single craft.
Photographs and surveillance video documented Israeli soldiers, wearing helmets and night vision goggles, as they boarded the flotilla. A picture from Israel’s foreign ministry displayed Thunberg, the flotilla’s most prominent passenger, being escorted by soldiers after the interception. Israeli officials confirmed, as reported by the AP, that those detained included Thunberg, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, and European Parliament member Rima Hassan.
Israel’s foreign ministry declared on X that the activists were “safe and in good health” and would be moved to Israel for deportation to Europe.
“The Hamas-Sumud provocation is over,” stated the Israeli foreign ministry in a post on X Thursday. “None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade. All passengers are safe and in good health. They are being safely transported to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe.”
“A final vessel linked to this provocation remains at a distance,” the post further stated. “Should it approach, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be stopped.”
The AP stated that news of the interception also garnered condemnation and ignited demonstrations in cities including Naples, Istanbul, Athens, and Buenos Aires. Italy’s biggest trade union declared a one-day general strike for Friday in protest, while additional rallies were anticipated globally on Thursday, the outlet added.
The flotilla represents one of several international endeavors aimed at challenging Israel’s blockade, which has been enforced since 2007 after Hamas seized control of Gaza. Earlier attempts by activist flotillas to breach the blockade have predominantly failed and have on occasion led to clashes, such as during the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid.
Neither the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) nor the Global Sumud Flotilla immediately replied to a comment request from Digital.