Organizers of the Gaza-bound aid convoy Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli forces raided 41 of their vessels in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, while 10 ships continue their journey toward blockaded Gaza.
According to a statement issued Tuesday morning, the remaining vessels were still sailing about 121 nautical miles (224 km) from Gaza. More than 50 ships departed from the Turkish port city of Marmaris last week in the final leg of a mission aimed at challenging Israel's blockade of Gaza.
Organizers said Israeli forces began boarding vessels in international waters off Cyprus on Monday and abducted activists. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Spain, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, Libya, and the Maldives issued a joint statement describing the actions of Israeli forces as “a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.”
The statement said the ministers expressed “deep concern for the safety and security of the civilian participants of the flotilla” and called for “the immediate release of all detained activists, as well as full respect for their rights and dignity.”
Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from the Palestinian territory, said Israeli media described the operation as one of the largest naval interceptions targeting a Gaza-bound flotilla in recent years. Just before Israeli forces began intercepting ships on Monday, Israel's Foreign Ministry demanded the flotilla abandon its mission, declaring “change course and turn back immediately.”
Margaret Connolly, an Irish doctor and sister of President Catherine Connolly, was among those “unlawfully abducted” by Israel, according to a statement from organizers sent to AFP. President Connolly, on a planned visit to Britain, told reporters after talks in London with King Charles III that the news was “sad.” She said: “I am very worried about her and also very concerned about her colleagues on the ship, but I have no detailed information yet.”
Israel has maintained its blockade of Gaza since 2007, arguing it is necessary to prevent arms from reaching Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. Human rights and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly condemned the blockade, describing it as a form of collective punishment imposed on the people of Gaza.
