The Global Sumud Flotilla claimed that Israeli warships were intercepting their fleet of over 50 vessels as they traveled to Gaza on Wednesday night.
“Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel,’ pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees,” GSF said on Instagram. “Boat communications are being jammed, and an SOS was issued.”
According to Marinetraffic.com, Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise, which is supposed to be part of the fleet, is located west of Crete.
The report comes on the same day that Defense Minister Israel Katz noted that a provision of the Counterterrorism Law authorizes the seizure of ships and other property intended for use in terror activity.
The Global Sumud Flotilla “violates UN Resolution 2803, which stipulated that aid to Gaza should enter through accepted official channels,” Katz said.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X/Twitter on Wednesday night that the driving force behind the “flotilla provocation” was Hamas, with the aim of sabotaging US President Donald Trump’s peace plans for Gaza.
“Like previous provocations, this is nothing but a PR stunt: a provocation without humanitarian aid,” said the Ministry. “As international media have exposed, these are professional provocateurs on pleasure cruises, addicted to self-promotion.”
Fifty-six vessels had embarked from Italy on Sunday, on a voyage to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
“The flotilla departs with a clear set of objectives: to challenge Israel’s illegal blockade, advance the opening of a permanent humanitarian corridor, and intensify coordinated international pressure on governments and corporations complicit in its enforcement,” GSF said on Monday.
This is a developing story.
