New Delhi, Oct 2: The Israeli navy has intercepted a flotilla of aid boats headed towards Gaza, detaining hundreds of activists on board, among them Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, reports BBC.
The operation marks the third time this year that Israel has blocked attempts by international groups to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza after previous flotillas in June and July were also turned back.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), consisting of 44 boats supported by international activists, politicians, and aid groups, had been sailing under heavy monitoring before the interception.
Organisers said their mission was backed by civil society networks across Europe, North Africa, and Latin America, with support demonstrations held in Greece, Italy, Tunisia, and Turkey as the vessels advanced towards Gaza.
Israel said its navy diverted the ships because they were approaching a combat zone and violating the naval blockade. Several vessels, including the Alma, Surius and Adara, were boarded at sea, while others were reportedly struck by water cannons.
The GSF alleged that one vessel was deliberately rammed and accused Israeli forces of jamming communications to block distress signals and livestreams, reports BBC. The flotilla was about 70 nautical miles from Gaza’s shoreline at the time of the intervention.
While Israel has described the flotilla as a political provocation, aid agencies argue it is part of wider efforts to break Israel’s restrictions on food, fuel and medicine entering Gaza.
A UN-backed group last month confirmed famine conditions in the territory, blaming what it called Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of aid. Israel and the US have instead promoted the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an alternative distribution channel rejected by the UN as unethical.
The interception triggered a wave of diplomatic fallout. Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the expulsion of Israel’s last remaining diplomats in Bogotá, ending all diplomatic presence.
He also scrapped a free trade agreement with Israel and demanded the release of two Colombian nationals aboard the flotilla. Ireland, France, and Italy confirmed their citizens and parliamentarians were among those detained, with Dublin warning Israel to uphold international law.
Israel’s military insists those intercepted are “safe and healthy.” But the incident comes as Israel intensifies its ground offensive in Gaza City and as Hamas weighs its response to a new US-backed ceasefire proposal.
