A flotilla carrying food and medical supplies destined for the Gaza Strip has been intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. This operation involved nine vessels and 150 individuals, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza. According to reports, Israeli authorities described the interception as a response to what they termed a “futile attempt” to breach the naval blockade in an area deemed a combat zone.
This incident follows a previous confrontation last week when Israel’s military stopped a 42-boat aid convoy, detaining nearly 500 pro-Palestinian activists, including notable figures such as Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. Current reports indicate that all nine boats in the recent flotilla were blocked, with the Israeli government confirming that the passengers would be taken to an Israeli port and deported promptly, asserting that all passengers were safe and in good health.
The passengers of the flotilla originated from various countries, including Turkey, whose foreign ministry criticized the interception as a violation of international law and described it as piracy. The broader context of these actions is rooted in the ongoing military campaign launched by Israel in response to a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties.
In Gaza, the health ministry reports extensive fatalities related to the ongoing conflict, with at least 67,183 individuals killed in Israeli attacks since the conflict escalated. Additionally, the health ministry has indicated that malnutrition-related deaths have occurred due to the humanitarian crisis, and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has warned of famine conditions in Gaza City, a region heavily affected by the Israeli military operations. Israel disputes the IPC’s findings, maintaining that its actions follow international law, and claims to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyn9qp9v11o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss