New Delhi, May 01: Israeli naval forces have intercepted a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza in international waters near the Greek island of Crete, detaining around 175 people, according to Israeli authorities.
Activists and organisers, however, claimed that 22 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) were stopped during an overnight operation more than 965 km from Gaza, as reported by the BBC. The group described the action as “piracy”, alleging that Israeli forces boarded vessels, damaged equipment, and detained civilians.
The flotilla, which included 58 vessels that had departed from Spain, France, and Italy two weeks ago, was attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The GSF stated that several boats were “systematically disabled” during what it called a “violent raid in international waters”.
The organisers further claimed that over 180 civilians from various countries were directly affected and said some participants were left stranded on damaged vessels amid an approaching storm after Israeli forces withdrew.
Israel, however, defended the operation, stating it was conducted in line with international law. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the interception was necessary to prevent a breach of what it described as a “lawful blockade” and to avoid escalation given the large number of vessels involved.
The incident has sparked political reactions across Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the detention of Italian nationals and called for their immediate release, stressing the need to uphold international law. European Union officials also reiterated calls for compliance with international humanitarian and maritime laws.
The latest development comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where a senior United Nations official has warned that over 2.1 million residents continue to face ongoing Israeli strikes and severe shortages of essential supplies.
Israel maintains that it is allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza through controlled channels and rejects accusations of restricting relief supplies. (Agency)
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