Israel intercepts the Flotilla, 24 Italians arrested. Meloni condemns: “Immediate release”

The Tel Aviv Navy says it seized the boats carrying the activists “hundreds of kilometers from the Israeli coast” and informed the people on board that they were “under arrest”. A video released on Telegram shows a crew of a Flotilla boat with their hands raised and an armed soldier boarding. “Dangerous and unprecedented escalation – the activists commented – the kidnapping of civilians in the middle of the Mediterranean, over 960 kilometers from Gaza, before the eyes of the whole world. This is piracy. Governments must act now to protect the Flotilla and hold Israel responsible for these flagrant violations of law”.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the Navy stopped about 175 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla and intercepted 21 of the 58 boats. The Israeli media reported it. The same ministry released a video which, according to it, showed the discovery of “condoms and drugs” on board one of the intercepted boats. Activists said they had been subjected to a “violent raid in international waters”, during which Israeli forces had “systematically disabled several vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla”.

Freedom Flotilla Italia expresses full and unconditional solidarity with the activists involved in the attack which took place last night off the coast of Crete. According to available information, “the action was conducted by the Israeli army”, and constitutes “an armed intervention in international waters against a civilian vessel. An episode of extreme gravity which represents a violation of international law” he writes in a note urging the intervention and condemnation of the Italian government and the

“About 175 activists, from over 20 vessels of the ‘condom flotilla’, are now peacefully reaching Israel. In the video: Activists have fun on board Israeli ships.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry writes this by sharing a video on X

“The attack perpetrated by Israeli forces in international waters against the Global Sumud Flotilla, organized to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, constitutes an act of piracy.” Ankara’s Foreign Ministry said this in a statement, according to which “Israel also violated humanitarian principles and international law” with its intervention. Turkey called on the international community to “adopt a united position against this illicit act of Israel” and is working “to ensure the well-being of our citizens and other passengers on board the Flotilla,” the statement said.

“This is a real attack against civilians in international waters. Unarmed civilian boats, hundreds of kilometers from Israel, are surrounded and threatened with weapons.” Gur Tsabar, press officer for the Global Sumud Flotilla, told Al Jazeera that the Israeli attack on the humanitarian convoy headed to Gaza was illegal under international law. “Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters. Intercepting or boarding these vessels would amount to illegal detention, potentially kidnapping on the high seas,” he added. Tsabar urged governments around the world to act immediately. “Every government has an obligation to protect the more than 400 civilians on board and to respect international law. Silence at this time amounts to total complicity,” he said. “Immediate action is needed to ensure the safety of the flotilla and to ensure that we can continue to open the humanitarian corridor to Gaza.”

Overnight, the Global Sumud Flotilla released a video via its Telegram channel that appears to show the boarding of one of the boats by the Israeli Navy. In the video – which bears the indication of 2:01 am – the crew of one of the boats can be seen with their hands raised or above their heads. From off-screen, orders can be heard shouting in English: “How many are on board? Nobody move.” The crew doesn’t respond, someone films with their cell phone. In the last seconds of the video we see an armed soldier who, from the right of the frame, climbs on board.

“Governments must act now to protect the Flotilla and hold Israel accountable for these flagrant violations of international law and the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.” Thus the Global Sumud Flotilla in a statement released on Telegram. “Israeli military boats have illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters, threatening kidnapping and violence – it is explained – Communications with 11 boats have been interrupted and the Israeli media say that 7 boats have been intercepted”. The Global Sumud Flotilla also broadcast the radio communication from the Israeli Navy before the interception via the Telegram channel: “The attempts to violate the maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip constitute a violation of international law – states the voice on the radio – If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, you can do so through established and recognized channels. Please change route and return to the port of departure. If you are transporting humanitarian aid, you can continue to the port of Ashdod, where the aid will be subjected to security checks and subsequently transferred to the Gaza Strip”.