Israeli Forces Board Gaza-Bound Flotilla Near Cyprus, Detain Hundreds of Activists

Israeli forces boarded a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters near Cyprus, intercepting more than 50 boats carrying aid for Gaza and detaining hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, according to the Global Sumud Flotilla and Reuters.

“The sister of Ireland's President Catherine Connolly is among eight Irish citizens intercepted by Israel on Gaza-bound aid flotilla ships, organizers said Monday”

Asharq Al-Awsat English

The Global Sumud Flotilla said its fleet was being boarded in an "illegal, high-seas aggression" about 250 nautical miles from Gaza, and its organisers said commandos were boarding the first boat in broad daylight.

Asharq Al-Awsat English

The BBC reported that the GSF said its closest vessel, Ramle (Sirius), reached around 80 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza before it was intercepted by an Israeli vessel.

Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman said, "At no point was live ammunition fired," and added that "non-lethal means were employed toward the vessel - not toward protesters - as a warning."

The BBC said the hundreds of detained activists were being transported by Israeli naval vessels to the Israeli port of Ashdod, and it reported that about 40 Turkish nationals were on board the intercepted vessels.

In a statement carried by Asharq Al-Awsat English, organisers said Margaret Connolly, an Irish doctor and President Catherine Connolly's sister, was among those "illegally kidnapped" by Israel, and they said "Eight Irish people have been illegally detained in this operation."

BBC

The BBC also reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel’s "piracy and banditry" against the "voyagers of hope," while Hamas official Basem Naim accused Israel of "state terrorism and systematic undermining of the entire international order."

On the ground, CBC News said the livestream showed activists, including 12 Canadians, raising their hands before a boat carrying Israeli troops approached and boarded the ship, and it reported that at least 11 Canadians out of the 12 had been detained.

CBC News quoted Ehab Lotayef saying, "We consider this blockade inhuman and illogical and meaningless," and said he described the mission as a "wake-up call to what governments are not doing."

Chronique de Palestine argued that Israel has blockaded Gaza since March while continuing airstrikes, and it cited the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) saying "the worst-case famine scenario" is developing and calls for an "urgent, independent, large-scale humanitarian response."

“Israel's navy intercepted an activist flotilla in waters off Cyprus on Monday, halting the group's latest effort to challenge a blockade of Gaza”

CBC

It also said at least half a million Palestinians will be at Level 5 on the IPC’s Acute Food Insecurity scale by September, and it reported that at least 175 Palestinians have already died of hunger.

The same article framed the flotilla idea as a way to bypass the blockade, quoting Huwaida Arraf saying, "We must break the blockade," after she was kidnapped in open water by Israeli forces aboard the Handala.

In the BBC account of the Cyprus interception, the GSF organisers demanded safe passage for a "legal, non-violent humanitarian mission," and they said "Governments must act now to stop these illegal acts or piracy meant to maintain Israel's genocidal siege on Gaza."