Israel’s navy begins operations against Gaza aid fleet

Middle East

Israel’s navy begins operations against Gaza aid fleet

International activists wanted to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip with dozens of ships. Now Israel’s navy is taking action against the solidarity fleet surprisingly early.

According to media reports, the Israeli navy has launched an operation against the international aid fleet for Gaza. The “Global Sumud Flotilla” said in a post on Platform X that Israeli military speedboats had approached the fleet. “They pointed lasers and semi-automatic assault rifles at the participants and ordered them to move to the bows of the boats and get on their hands and knees,” it said. “The boats’ communications are disrupted and an emergency call (SOS) has been issued.”

Dozens of ships with activists from numerous countries on board set sail from Sicily towards the Gaza Strip on Sunday. The organization spoke of the largest flotilla ever attempting to reach the Gaza Strip.

The pro-Palestinian activists wanted to try again to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since 2007 and is also supported by Egypt, and to bring aid supplies to the conflict region. The declared goal of the “Global Sumud Flotilla” is also to advance the establishment of a permanent humanitarian corridor.

In the past, Israel has always prevented activists’ attempts to break the naval blockade off the sealed-off coastal strip. In a previous attempt, the “Global Sumud Flotilla”, which consisted mainly of private sailing and motor boats, was stormed by Israeli special forces last autumn and prevented from reaching the area.

The Israeli army did not initially comment on the reports. The Israeli news portal “ynet” reported, citing an Israeli representative, that because of the size of the fleet, it had been decided to bring it under control in international waters well off the Israeli coast – west of the Greek island of Crete.