Naval action near Crete halts aid mission, detains activists.
Israeli forces intercepted at least 22 boats, detaining approximately 175 activists from the 'Global Sumud Flotilla' in international waters near the Greek island of Crete. The operation, which occurred over 1,000 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, saw Israeli naval vessels board the ships. Organizers have decried the move as an "escalation of Israel’s impunity" and an "act of piracy."
The intercepted vessels, part of a larger mission comprising around 58 boats departing from Italy, were aiming to break Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. Flotilla organizers stated that 36 vessels were still en route. Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the interception, with officials asserting the necessity of enforcing the blockade to prevent weapons from reaching the territory.
Following the operation, Israel stated that the detained activists would be transferred to Greece. Gideon Saar, writing on X, thanked the Greek government for its willingness to receive them, noting the coordination involved. Previously, Israeli authorities had indicated the detainees would be taken to Israel.
Read More: Iran to Play World Cup in US, FIFA President Says
Turkey denounced the interception as a violation of international law that jeopardized navigational safety, vowing to take action in support of the flotilla. International aid bodies and Palestinian representatives continue to assert that humanitarian supplies reaching Gaza remain insufficient, despite a ceasefire agreement in October that promised increased aid.
One spokesperson for Global Sumud France noted the operation's distance from Gaza, describing it as "unprecedented." Participants hailed from approximately 70 countries. This is not the first such interception; in October, Israel also intercepted boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla. The latest mission, which set sail two weeks ago from Spain, aimed to challenge the blockade, advocate for a permanent humanitarian corridor, and increase pressure on entities deemed complicit in its enforcement.
