RSF Accuses Israel of ‘Kidnapping’ Three Journalists from Gaza Aid Flotilla
Al Jazeera Staff
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has accused Israel of ‘kidnapping’ three journalists from the Global Sumud aid flotilla, which was intercepted in international waters while heading to Gaza. Al Jazeera expressed deep concern for its missing crew, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the interception as a violation of international law. The incident follows previous accusations of mistreatment of detainees and a pattern of abuses against Palestinian journalists.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has denounced Israel for ‘kidnapping’ three journalists from the Global Sumud aid flotilla bound for Gaza. The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces while sailing in international waters.
In a social media post on May 1, RSF condemned ‘the abduction by the Israeli army in international waters’ of French journalist Hafed Mribah, Turkish cameraman Mahmut Yavuz — both working for Al Jazeera — and American journalist Alex Colston, who works for the U.S. outlet Zeteo. RSF stressed: ‘Israel is responsible for their safety.’
Al Jazeera expressed ‘deep concern for the safety’ of its journalists. In a statement, the network said it had lost contact with its crew on the vessel and ‘calls on the international community to take a unified stance against Israel’s violations of international law.’
Organizers said Israel intercepted 22 out of 58 ships heading to Gaza early on April 30 in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, hundreds of nautical miles from the Palestinian coast. Two hundred and eleven people were detained, and Israel said it would hand over those detained to Greece.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused Israel of ‘again violating international law by attacking a civilian flotilla in waters that do not belong to it’ and called on the European Union to freeze bilateral relations.
After a previous interception of a Gaza aid flotilla in October last year, some detained activists accused Israeli authorities of physical and psychological mistreatment, including beatings, forced kneeling, blindfolding, and sleep deprivation. Israel denied the allegations, calling them ‘fake news.’
According to a February report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, based on testimonies from 59 Palestinian journalists detained by Israel after the October 7, 2023 attack, reporters have frequently faced systematic abuse, including torture, severe beatings, sexual violence, starvation, and lack of medical care. Many were held under administrative detention without charges.
