The United Nations and the European Union on Wednesday condemned attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla. As per reports, Israeli naval forces intercepted all vessels in Global Sumud Flotilla, the latest effort to highlight the grim of conditions for nearly 2 million Palestinians who are facing severe shortage of basic essentials and amenities.
A live feed on the Global Sumud Flotilla website showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the vessels as activists in life vests put their hands up. Soldiers then destroyed cameras mounted on the vessels. Organizers claimed Israeli naval forces fired on five boats during the interdictions, with some damage. Activists on board claimed Israeli forces attacked the flotilla using flash bombs, flares, and suspected chemical substances.
Retaliating the claims, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that no live ammunition was fired. In a statement late Tuesday, it added that “non-lethal means” were aimed toward the vessels as a warning, but without targeting or injuring protesters.
Earlier on Monday, 41 boats from the group were captured in international waters off Cyprus. The Flotilla said late Tuesday that 428 detained activists from over 40 nations remain “unaccounted for” as they have had neither contact with lawyers nor access to consular help and their families haven’t been informed of their whereabouts.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry Office said Tuesday night that “all 430 activists” had been transferred to Israeli vessels. The post on X, which called the flotilla “a PR stunt at the service of Hamas,” added that they were “making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives.”
Earlier, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned the intervention against the “voyagers of hope” in the flotilla and urged the international community to take action against Israel’s maneuvers.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying 426 participants from 39 countries, departed from southern Turkey on Thursday marking a third attempt to deliver Humanitarian aid to crises hit Gaza.
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