Israeli forces intercepted an aid flotilla bound for Gaza near the southern Greek island of Crete overnight Wednesday into Thursday. The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of more than 70 boats and 1,000 participants from around the world, set sail earlier this month from Barcelona with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
Key Takeaways
Israeli forces intercepted an aid flotilla bound for Gaza near Crete, detaining over 175 activists according to Israel's Foreign Ministry. The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona with more than 70 boats and 1,000 participants aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
- Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla near Crete, detaining over 175 activists
- The flotilla aimed to break Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza
- Turkey condemned the seizure as an act of piracy
- Activists plan a protest in Athens, criticizing Greece's lack of response
- A fragile ceasefire in Gaza has not halted Israeli attacks, which have killed over 790 people since October 2023
According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, Israeli forces detained over 175 activists from more than 20 boats participating in the flotilla. The activists claimed that Israel's actions marked a dangerous and unprecedented escalation, detaining civilians far from Gaza in full view of the world. Turkey condemned the seizure as an act of piracy, stating that Israel violated humanitarian principles and international law.
Activists in Greece plan a protest rally outside the Greek foreign ministry in Athens on Thursday afternoon. They argue that Israel's interception occurred within Greece's maritime responsibility zone for search and rescue operations, criticizing the country's coast guard for not reacting. The flotilla's attempt comes less than a year after Israeli authorities foiled another effort by the activist group to reach Gaza.
A fragile six-month-old ceasefire in Gaza has halted the most intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas-led militants. However, despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have killed more than 790 people since October 2023 according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Overall, the health ministry reports that 72,300 Palestinians had been killed since the war in Gaza began with the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
The flotilla organizers hope their latest attempt to reach Gaza will highlight the living conditions endured by Palestinians in the territory. Around two million Gaza residents are still living in ruins with shortages of food and medicine, and only limited aid is entering through a single Israeli-controlled border post.
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