Israeli Forces Intercept Global Sumud Flotilla Aid Boats in International Waters

Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla aid boats in international waters in the middle of the Mediterranean as the humanitarian fleet headed toward Gaza, according to organisers and Israeli media cited by Al Jazeera.

“Israel has begun intercepting Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla aid boats Israeli military forces have intercepted boats travelling with the Global Sumud Flotilla, using drones, communications jamming technology and armed raiding parties to halt the humanitarian fleet in the middle of the Mediterranean as it heads to Gaza, according to organisers and Israeli media”

Al Jazeera

The Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission said on Thursday that its boats were approached by military speedboats “self-identified as ‘Israel’, pointing lasers and semiautomatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees.”

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reported that Israel used drones, communications jamming technology and armed raiding parties to halt the humanitarian fleet, and said the flotilla was travelling to Crete in international waters when the naval raid began.

Al Jazeera’s Jack Barton, reporting from Amman, Jordan, said unnamed Israeli military sources were sharing details of the naval raid with Israeli media, including “the aim was to surprise the flotilla by striking so far from Gaza.”

Barton said the flotilla was estimated to be about 600 nautical miles (1,110km) from Gaza and that the previous farthest intercept by Israel of an aid flotilla was 72 nautical miles (133km) from the Palestinian territory.

The flotilla’s Flotilla Tracker map showed 22 boats intercepted by the Israeli military while 36 were still sailing towards Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said activists on the intercepted boats would be taken to Greece, writing that “in coordination with the Greek government, the civilians who were transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be brought ashore in Greece in the coming hours.”

The detentions and the scale of the interception were described differently across outlets, with Israeli officials citing figures around 175 activists while other reports cited higher totals.

Euronews said Israel’s foreign minister stated that activists intercepted earlier on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla would be taken to Greece, and it quoted Gideon Sa’ar writing that “in coordination with the Greek government, the civilians who were transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be brought ashore in Greece in the coming hours.”

Al Jazeera

Euronews also reported that Israeli army radio, citing an unnamed military source, said seven of the 58 boats had been intercepted near Kythira, while the flotilla said it had lost contact with 11 vessels and described 15 as having been boarded.

Euronews further said the Israeli foreign ministry subsequently said forces had detained 175 people from more than 20 boats, adding that “Approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats ... are now making their way peacefully to Israel.”

NPR reported that activists said Israeli forces intercepted them overnight Wednesday into Thursday near the southern Greek island of Crete, detaining the crews while the flotilla was sailing near Crete.

The Globe and Mail reported that Global Sumud Flotilla organisers said more than 180 activists were detained in international waters as Israeli forces intercepted 22 boats, and it identified two Canadians among the detained activists as Marie Tota and Umir Tiar.

Saudi Gazette later said Israel freed all but two activists in Greece after seizing the flotilla, stating that “All but two pro-Palestinian activists detained by Israeli forces after their flotilla headed for Gaza was intercepted in international waters have now been released in Greece,” while Israel said about 175 people had been detained.

Global Sumud Flotilla leaders and participants framed the interception as an attack on civilians and a violation of international law, while Israeli officials described it as stopping a provocation.

Al Jazeera quoted the flotilla’s spokesperson Gur Tsabar describing Israel’s boarding as “a straight-up attack on unarmed civilian boats in international waters.”

Tsabar told Al Jazeera from Toronto, Canada, that the operation was taking place “hundreds of miles from Israel” and that the flotilla was “surrounded and threatened at gunpoint,” adding, “This is illegal under international law. Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters.”

Al Jazeera also reported that Tariq Ra’ouf, a writer and activist on board, said “We’ve lost communication with many of our boats,” and described communications being jammed as Israeli forces played music over radio channels as “some sort of psychological warfare tactic.”

In contrast, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the activists would be taken to Greece, while Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said the flotilla was stopped before reaching Israel’s area and that Israeli soldiers were acting with “determination dealing with a group of delusional attention-seeking agitators.”

Euronews reported that Israel’s foreign minister wrote that “Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” and it quoted Danny Danon saying Israeli soldiers acted with “professionalism and determination” in stopping what he called a “provocative flotilla.”

The Times of Israel quoted the Israeli Foreign Ministry saying that “due to the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade, an early action was required in accordance with international law.”

The interception drew attention to specific foreign nationals detained or affected, including Australians and Canadians, with family members and consular officials describing uncertainty about their status.

The Guardian reported that the family of a Newcastle man issued a tearful plea for his safety and said at least six Australians were detained by the Israel Defense Forces, naming Newcastle climate activist Zack Schofield, University of Sydney student Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor, Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman, Surya McEwen and Cameron Tribe.

Al Jazeera

The Guardian quoted Schofield’s partner, Sarah, saying, “I got a text message telling me that he was OK and he loved me,” and then, “Then 15 minutes later I saw a video of him being abducted.”

The Guardian also said CCTV footage posted online showed members of the IDF boarding the six Australians’ vessels and that pre-recorded messages were published announcing they had been “kidnapped … against my will.”

In parallel, the Globe and Mail reported that two Canadians were among the activists detained, identifying them as Marie Tota, a nurse from Ontario, and Umir Tiar, a student from Quebec City, and it said Global Sumud Canada spokesperson Safa Chebbi spoke to The Canadian Press from a flotilla boat currently sailing in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Globe and Mail quoted a pre-recorded video in which Tota said, “If you’re watching this, Israeli occupation forces have kidnapped me from international waters,” and “My kidnapping shows once again how far the Israeli regime and its backers will go to continue their siege and genocide.”

Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that consular officials were in Crete to provide assistance and to “confirm the detention of any Australians,” and it quoted a DFAT spokesperson saying they were “also continuing to liaise with local authorities in Israel and Greece including to confirm the detention of any Australians.”

After the interception, activists were taken to Crete and released in stages, while Israel said two steering-committee members would be questioned in Israel.

Saudi Gazette reported that “All but two pro-Palestinian activists detained by Israeli forces” were released in Greece, and it said the remaining two men were being brought to Israel “for questioning,” naming Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila.

Al Jazeera

Saudi Gazette said Israel’s foreign ministry stated that one man, Saif Abu Keshek, was “suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization” and the other, Thiago Ávila, was “suspected of illegal activity,” and that both remained in Israeli custody.

The Times of Israel similarly reported that two activists who led an aid flotilla were being brought to Israel as suspects, and it quoted the Foreign Ministry saying, “Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization, and Thiago Ávila, suspected of illegal activity, will be brought to Israel for questioning.”

Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Gideon Sa’ar said early Friday morning the detained crew members would be “disembarked on a Greek beach in the coming hours,” and it said Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein stated that all activists were in Greece “except Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila.”

The United States backed Israel’s decision to intercept the boats, with State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott calling the flotilla a “meaningless political stunt” and saying the United States expected allies to deny port access, docking, departure and refueling.

The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli Navy called on remaining activists to either turn back or sail to Ashdod if they had humanitarian aid, warning that they would be stopped if they tried to continue on their course.