Israeli Forces Detain Gaza-Bound Global Sumud Flotilla Activists, Spain Condemns Treatment

Israeli forces detained activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla after intercepting vessels in international waters, with the Global Sumud Flotilla describing the seizure as an “abduction” and detention conditions as the reason at least 87 detainees launched a hunger strike.

“- Published Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has called for the "immediate release" of Irish participants on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that was intercepted by Israel”

BBC

Roya News reported that Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares condemned the treatment of activists detained from the flotilla as “monstrous, disgraceful and inhumane,” and said Spain summoned 'Israel’s' chargé d’affaires in Madrid in protest.

BBC

The PBS account said Israeli forces intercepted all remaining vessels from the activist flotilla on Tuesday, with a live feed showing armed soldiers boarding vessels as activists in life vests put their hands up and soldiers destroying cameras mounted on the vessels.

PBS also reported that on Monday the Israeli navy stopped some 41 boats from the flotilla in international waters off Cyprus and detained those on board, and that the flotilla said late Tuesday that 428 detained activists from over 40 nations remain “unaccounted for.”

In the same PBS report, Israel’s Foreign Ministry Office said Tuesday night that “all 430 activists” had been transferred to Israeli vessels, while thepost on X said the flotilla was “a PR stunt at the service of Hamas.”

Irish officials focused on the detention of President Catherine Connolly’s sister, with the BBC reporting that Helen McEntee called for the "immediate release" of Irish participants after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing detainees kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.

The BBC said Micheál Martin was “appalled at the shocking behaviour” of Ben-Gvir and claimed the actions of the Israeli government are “in breach of international law,” while Adalah said the activists were being “taken into Israeli territory entirely against their will” and detained at Ashdod port.

JNS.org

The National reported that Irish premier Micheal Martin condemned the detentions as “wrong and unacceptable” and pledged to raise the issue with the European Union, while organisers said Israeli interception of 41 boats occurred in the Eastern Mediterranean with 10 vessels still heading towards Gaza.

The National also said Catherine Connolly expressed pride and concern for her sibling and fellow activists, and quoted her as saying, “We’re at this long enough to know that Israel doesn’t really care very much for people’s words.”

In the same dispute over responsibility, the BBC noted that Netanyahu gave rare criticism to Ben-Gvir over his handling of the detained activists, saying Ben-Gvir’s actions were “not in line with Israel's values.”

Beyond Ireland, the BBC described international reaction including calls for release and welfare assurances, while it also reported that Israel dismissed the flotilla as a “PR stunt at the service of Hamas” and that more than 50 boats set sail from Turkey last Thursday.

“Julia Frankel, Associated PressJulia Frankel, Associated Press Menelaos Hadjicostis, Associated PressMenelaos Hadjicostis, Associated Press Leave your feedback JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces on Tuesday intercepted all remaining vessels from an activist flotilla attempting tochallenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, the latest effort to highlight the grim conditions for nearly 2 million Palestinians with severe shortages of housing, food and medicine”

PBS

PBS added that the flotilla urged governments and world leaders to demand the activists “immediate and unconditional release” and to ensure they get legal and consular help without delay, and it warned of “grave and immediate concerns” about physical safety after an April 30 interdiction described “patterns of torture, severe physical abuse and invasive sexual violence” by Israeli forces.

Roya News said Turkey and the Palestinian militant group Hamas called the interdictions an act of “piracy,” and it reported that Canada summoned the 'Israeli' ambassador after calling the video “deeply troubling and absolutely unacceptable.”

PBS also placed the flotilla in the wider aid debate by citing Israel’s claim that sufficient aid is entering Gaza with around 600 trucks delivering assistance daily, and by contrasting it with a U.N. World Food Program report that a daily average of 112 trucks entered in March.

In the BBC’s account of consequences, it said the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions against European activists Saif Abu Keshek, Jaldia Abubakra Aueda, Hisham Abdallah Sulayman Abu Mahfuz and Mohammed Khatib, and it quoted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calling them “pro-terror.”