Overview
- Israel’s navy, which began boarding the Global Sumud flotilla on Monday in daylight about 80 miles west of Cyprus, intercepted multiple boats roughly 250 nautical miles from Gaza.
- Israel said it will not allow the Gaza blockade to be broken, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praising the operation and officials saying detainees will be moved to a cargo ship and then to the port of Ashdod.
- Spain condemned the action as a breach of international law and said the convoy included about 54 boats and 500 activists, including around 45 Spaniards.
- Mexico demanded human rights guarantees and immediate consular access for its citizens as organizers and Irish media reported several Irish activists detained, including the president’s sister.
- Organizers said hundreds were seized but at least ten boats kept sailing on Tuesday at about 121 nautical miles from Gaza, deepening a legal and diplomatic fight over Israel’s naval blockade in place since 2007.