Flotilla Reports Israeli Naval Harassment as Aid Mission Nears Gaza
TUNIS, Oct 2 (VoM): An international flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza has accused Israeli naval vessels of carrying out “dangerous and intimidatory maneuvers” against its civilian boats as they sailed toward the blockaded territory on Wednesday.
Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said two Israeli warships rapidly approached and encircled two of its boats, Alma and Sirius, while disabling their navigation and communication systems in what was described as a “cyber-attack.” Communications were later partially restored. Israeli authorities have not issued a comment.
“These hostile actions placed unarmed civilians from over 40 countries in grave danger,” the flotilla said in a statement.
The flotilla, made up of more than 40 civilian vessels carrying some 500 passengers — including parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists such as Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg is the latest seaborne effort to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and deliver food and medicine.
The group said its boats are now within 120 nautical miles of Gaza’s coast and expect to arrive Thursday morning if not intercepted. Last week, the flotilla reported being targeted by drones that dropped stun grenades and itching powder on their vessels, causing minor damage but no casualties.
Israeli officials have previously defended their blockade as a “legal necessity” to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas and vowed to stop any attempt to breach it.
Italy and Spain, which had deployed naval ships for humanitarian support, withdrew from shadowing the flotilla once it reached 150 nautical miles from Gaza. Turkish drones have also been monitoring the convoy. On Wednesday, Italy and Greece jointly urged Israel not to harm the activists and called on the flotilla to transfer its aid to the Catholic Church for indirect delivery an appeal the organizers rejected.
“This systematic refusal to hand over the aid demonstrates that the objective is not humanitarian but provocative,” said Jonathan Peled, Israel’s ambassador to Italy.
UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian rights Francesca Albanese, speaking at the flotilla’s press conference, warned that any interception of the boats would amount to “a violation of international law and the law of the sea,” since the vessels are in international waters.
Israel has maintained its naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas took control of the enclave. Activist flotillas have repeatedly tried to challenge the blockade, with deadly consequences. In 2010, nine activists were killed after Israeli forces stormed a flotilla of six ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters.
Earlier this year, in June, Israeli naval forces detained Greta Thunberg and 11 others aboard a smaller vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as they neared Gaza.
Despite international appeals for calm, the flotilla insists it will continue its mission, pledging to press on toward Gaza “with determination and solidarity.”