IDF Intercepted Gaza-Bound Global Sumud Flotilla, Ben-Gvir Taunted Activists

Israeli naval forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters west of Cyprus, about 250 nautical miles (460km) from the coast of Gaza, and began intercepting the fleet on Monday morning.

“After eight attempts, the United States Senate has finally passed a War Powers Resolution limiting military activities in Iran, with a vote of 50 to 47”

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The BBC reports that more than 50 boats set sail from Turkey last Thursday carrying a token amount of aid, with 430 people from more than 40 countries on board, and that Israel dismissed the action as a "PR stunt at the service of Hamas."

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The Guardian describes Australian Zack Schofield watching Israeli soldiers beat a fellow flotilla activist after she was filmed shouting “free Palestine” at Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Schofield said her hands and feet were zip-tied before she was taken to a prison bus.

Schofield said the violence began when IDF ships intercepted their aid-carrying boats on Monday and forced crews onto prison ships, and he said detainees were left to sleep in light grey prison tracksuits on cold, wet floors for two days, "cheek by jowl."

The BBC says international condemnation followed after far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing himself taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs, and it reports that the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called the actions "despicable."

The Guardian reports that the Israeli ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, claimed that the detained flotilla members were handled with “great sensitivity” and rejected claims of violence and sexual abuse, telling the ABC that “Out of the 400-plus people that were on the flotilla, no one was harmed.”

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SadaNews says the Palestinian presidency condemned Ben Gvir and the actions of Israeli occupation forces, calling the interception of the fleet in international waters "illegal act, maritime piracy, and a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian law."

The BBC adds that Adalah said its lawyers documented dozens of participants with suspected broken ribs and difficulty in breathing, and it reports that Adalah said activists were "subjected to severe degradation and sexual harassment and humiliation."

The BBC reports that the activists were taken to Ashdod port and detained, and it says Israel’s foreign ministry insisted it would "not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza" while saying activists would be allowed to meet their consular representatives after arriving in Israel.

“Far-right Israeli minister condemned for taunting handcuffed Gaza flotilla activists There has been international condemnation of Israel's treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli naval forces”

BBC

The Asiae Economy report says Cheong Wa Dae expressed strong regret over Israel's arrest of two South Koreans aboard an international relief fleet, and it quotes presidential spokesman Kang Yoo-jung saying, "However, we appreciate the Israeli side's immediate release of our people and welcome it."

The Guardian says European fashion retailers facing scrutiny after the fire at a factory that supplied them killed at least 33 garment workers in Bangladesh, but in this Gaza flotilla context it also notes that Netanyahu defended the interception while condemning his minister, stating: “The way that minister Ben-Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms.”

The Asiae Economy report says the relief flotilla was composed of about 50 vessels that departed last week from Türkiye near Cyprus, intending to head to the Gaza Strip, and it adds that Israeli authorities intercepted the flotilla approximately 268 kilometers off the Gaza coastline.