Israel intercepts humanitarian aid flotilla for Gaza near Cyprus - BBC
Kyiv • UNN
The Israeli military intercepted over 50 vessels of a humanitarian flotilla near Cyprus. Mission participants were detained and are planned to be deported from the port of Ashdod.
The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of over 50 vessels in international waters near Cyprus that was heading to the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid. This was reported by the BBC, according to UNN.
Details
According to the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, Israeli forces began storming the vessels approximately 250 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Video broadcasts showed special forces boarding the boats.
Flotilla organizers called Israel's actions "illegal aggression on the high seas" and stated that the mission was a "peaceful humanitarian initiative."
We demand safe passage for our legitimate non-violent humanitarian mission
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the raid was aimed at "neutralizing a malicious plan to break the isolation imposed on Hamas in Gaza."
According to activists, more than 460 people from 45 countries participated in the flotilla. Some of the vessels have already been detained and directed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, after which the participants are planned to be deported.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Israel's actions "piracy and banditry." Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin also condemned the interception of the flotilla, stating that people have the right to protest and draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that they would not allow the maritime blockade of Gaza to be violated and called the flotilla a "provocation for the sake of provocation." Additionally, the Israeli side claims that there was allegedly no humanitarian aid on board.
According to the BBC, this is not the first such incident. Last month, Israeli forces intercepted 22 vessels from the same flotilla near Crete. At that time, 181 activists were detained.