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Israel Intercepts Gaza-Bound Flotilla in International Waters, Transfers Activists to Port

The operation in international waters drew swift diplomatic protests, reviving disputes over the Gaza blockade’s legality.

Overview

  • Israeli naval forces boarded multiple Global Sumud vessels about 70 nautical miles off Gaza and began towing them to an Israeli port, with officials saying detainees were safe.
  • Organisers reported roughly a dozen to nearly twenty boats intercepted and said other vessels remained at sea after communications were scrambled.
  • Verified footage showed Greta Thunberg among those detained as activists described water cannons and boarding actions, with no serious injuries reported.
  • Turkey condemned the move, Colombia ordered Israeli diplomats to leave and ended a free trade pact, and Malaysia said eight of its nationals were detained.
  • Israel defended the action as enforcement of a lawful blockade and said aid could be routed via Ashkelon or third-country ports, a proposal organisers rejected as legal experts disputed interception in international waters.