Israeli naval forces intercepted 39 vessels from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. In the process, Israeli forces also apprehended and arrested numerous activists, including international climate activist Greta Thunberg and several European lawmakers.
The flotilla has since been reduced to a single vessel still headed toward Gaza. Organizers with the Global Sumud Flotilla said on X that the boat was last tracked only a few miles off Gaza’s coast before contact was lost. Activists told the Associated Press that they believed the flotilla’s size would make it harder for Israeli forces to intercept every vessel.
Photos and surveillance footage captured the moment Israeli soldiers in helmets and night vision goggles boarded the flotilla. A photo from Israel’s foreign ministry showed Thunberg, the most prominent of the flotilla’s passengers, accompanied by soldiers following the interception.
Israeli officials said those detained included Thunberg, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau and European Parliament member Rima Hassan.
Israel’s foreign ministry said on X that the activists were “safe and in good health” and would be transferred to Israel to be deported to Europe.
“The Hamas-Sumud provocation is over,” the Israel’s foreign ministry said in a post on X Thursday. “None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade. All the passengers are safe and in good health. They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe.”
“One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance,” the post added. “If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented.”
The flotilla is part of a series of international efforts to challenge Israel’s blockade, which has been in place since 2007 after Hamas took control of Gaza. Previous attempts by activist flotillas to break the blockade have largely failed and sometimes sparked deadly clashes, including during the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid. (RELATED: Drone Strike Hits Greta Thunberg’s Gaza Flotilla, Activists Say)
In early September, Global Sumud Flotilla organizers reported that one of their Gaza-bound aid ships — dubbed the Family Boat, with Greta Thunberg on board — was struck by what they say was a drone while docked off Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. The impact triggered a fire on both the main deck and storage area below deck.
All six passengers survived the incident.
BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!
Not worthy of comment.
Please keep that punky snot in prison.
The world knows Greta is somewhat challenged and these front end shows are allowing her to be exposed to things I am sure she does not really understand. Her ability to not understand the full implications is a fact and being used is another fact. Guess she is of age but I guarantee no one except an idiot is really going for her ideas. Is it Soros or someone like that who funds her? Used? You bet but not with her real awakened knowledge!