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Israeli naval ships intercept Gaza-bound flotilla Greta Thunberg among activists detained as Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla
(about 3 hours later)
Watch: Moment Israeli navy intercepts activist boats carrying aid to GazaWatch: Moment Israeli navy intercepts activist boats carrying aid to Gaza
The Israeli navy has intercepted boats carrying aid to Gaza and detained the activists aboard, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. Dozens of activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, have been detained by Israeli forces after a flotilla carrying aid bound for Gaza was intercepted.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said several vessels that form part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) had been "safely stopped" and that those aboard were being transferred to an Israeli port. Israel's Foreign Ministry said several vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) had been "safely stopped" and those aboard were being transferred to an Israeli port to be deported.
It added the navy had told the vessels to change course as they were "approaching an active combat zone". The boats intercepted were in international waters about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast. Israel has been policing this area but does not have jurisdiction there.
The GSF has said boats are still being intercepted on Thursday morning. Earlier, it said 30 boats were still "sailing strong to Gaza" and were 46 nautical miles from their intended destination. Israel said its navy had told the boats to change course as they were "approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade".
They described the interception as "illegal" and "not an act of defence" but "a brazen act of desperation". The GSF described the interceptions as "illegal" and "not an act of defence", but "a brazen act of desperation".
The group has alleged that one vessel within the flotilla was "deliberately rammed at sea" and said additional boats were hit by water cannons. The group has alleged that one vessel within the flotilla was "deliberately rammed at sea" and said additional boats were hit by water cannon.
"It clearly reveals the extreme lengths to which the occupier will go to ensure Gaza remains starved and isolated," GSF wrote on social media. A number of countries have expressed concern over the incident. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who said the interception in international waters was "contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown on the dozens of vessels in the flotilla".
"They will attack a peaceful civilian mission because the success of humanitarian aid means the failure of their siege." Turkey's foreign ministry condemned the interception as an "act of terrorism", and called for the "perpetrators of this attack" to be held accountable.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the flotilla had been informed it was "violating a lawful naval blockade" that covers the waters next to Gaza - though it is unclear if the boats had entered the blockade zone. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has expelled all remaining Israeli diplomats from the country in response, and denounced the interception as an "international crime by [Israel's Prime Minister] Netanyahu".
It posted footage from the interception showing Thunberg sitting on the deck of a boat, being handed water and a jacket by a member of the Israeli military. Petro also terminated Colombia's free trade agreement with Israel, in place since 2020, and called for the release of two Colombians who were aboard the flotilla.
Later on Thursday, the foreign ministry said detained activists were being taken to Israel before procedures begin to deport them to Europe. However, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the attempt to reach Gaza, saying: "I continue to believe that all this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people."
Livestreams from the boats suggest not all of the 44 vessels have been boarded and evacuated. Israel's Foreign Ministry posted footage from the interception showing Greta Thunberg sitting on the deck of a boat, being handed water and a jacket by a member of the Israeli military. Detained activists are being taken to the port of Ashdod, Israel said.
The Israeli government, which has branded the GSF's attempt to transport humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza as "provocation", said: "Greta and her friends are safe and healthy. The Israeli government, which has branded the attempt to transport humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza a "provocation", said: "Greta and her friends are safe and healthy."
The GSF said multiple ships including the Alma, one of the main vessels, as well as the Surius and the Adara, had been intercepted and boarded.
Prior to that, it accused the Israeli military of "intentionally damaging ship communications, in an attempt to block distress signals and stop the livestream of their illegal boat boarding".
It said the flotilla had been 70 nautical miles from Gaza's shoreline when the intervention had occurred. The group had hoped its vessels would arrive in Gaza on Thursday morning.
The Israeli foreign ministry released footage of its forces detaining Swedish activist Greta Thunberg from one of the boatsThe Israeli foreign ministry released footage of its forces detaining Swedish activist Greta Thunberg from one of the boats
People have gathered in Greece, Italy, Germany, Tunisia and Turkey to protest against Israel's interception of the flotilla. People have gathered in Greece, Italy, Germany, Tunisia and Turkey to protest against Israel's interception of the flotilla. Its actions have also drawn criticism from Pakistan, Bolivia and Malaysia.
In Italy, spontaneous rallies took place in some cities on Wednesday evening. Its main trade union CGIL confirmed it was backing a general strike on Friday in solidarity with Gaza and in response to what it said was the "abandonment" of Italian workers "in open international waters" by the Italian government.
In a statement the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for Israel to "urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material through all means possible", adding it must agree to facilitate impartial humanitarian relief schemes "without hindrance".In a statement the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for Israel to "urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material through all means possible", adding it must agree to facilitate impartial humanitarian relief schemes "without hindrance".
Italian unions have also called a general strike on Friday in "defense of the flotilla, constitutional values, and for Gaza". The UK foreign office said it had been in contact with the families of the British nationals on board boats. It added it had contacted the Israeli authorities to "make clear we expect the situation to be resolved safely".
Turkey's foreign ministry condemned the interception as an "act of terrorism", and called for the "perpetrators of this attack" to be held accountable.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has expelled all remaining Israeli diplomats from the country in response, and denounced the interception as an "international crime by Netanyahu".
Petro also terminated Colombia's free trade agreement with Israel, which has been in place since 2020, and called for the release of two Colombians who were aboard the flotilla.
Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris called the reports "concerning" and said he expects Israel to uphold international law, with at least seven Irish citizens among the detained, including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews.Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris called the reports "concerning" and said he expects Israel to uphold international law, with at least seven Irish citizens among the detained, including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews.
The flotilla left Spain a month ago, with more than 40 ships and around 500 people on board, including European parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, intending they say to take aid directly into Gaza.
Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July.Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July.
While the Israeli government has characterised the flotilla as a "selfie yacht", Thunberg has pushed back against that criticism, telling the BBC on Sunday: "I don't think anyone would risk their life for a publicity stunt."While the Israeli government has characterised the flotilla as a "selfie yacht", Thunberg has pushed back against that criticism, telling the BBC on Sunday: "I don't think anyone would risk their life for a publicity stunt."
International aid agencies have been attempting to get food and medicine into the Palestinian territory but note Israel is restricting the flow of supplies. International aid agencies have been attempting to get food and medicine into the Palestinian territory but say Israel is restricting the flow of supplies.
Israel claims it is attempting to stop those supplies falling into the hands of Hamas. It and the US have backed an alternative food distribution system, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) which the UN refuses to co-operate with, describing its set-up as unethical. Israel claims it is attempting to stop those supplies falling into the hands of Hamas. It and the US have backed an alternative food distribution system, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) which the UN has branded unethical and "inherently unsafe".
A UN-backed group confirmed last month that there was famine in Gaza and the UN's humanitarian chief said it was the direct result of Israel's "systematic obstruction" of aid entering the territory. A UN-backed group confirmed last month that there was famine in Gaza, and the UN's humanitarian chief said it was the direct result of Israel's "systematic obstruction" of aid entering the territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called this an "outright lie".Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called this an "outright lie".
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a statement that France had ensured "that any possible boarding operation would take place under the best possible security conditions".
Italy's foreign minister said he had been reassured by Israel that its armed forces would not use violence against the 500 people aboard, including French and Italian politicians.
Antonio Tajani said: "The boarding was planned, we are talking about it... with [Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon] Saar so that there would be no violent actions on the part of the Tel Aviv armed forces, and this has been assured to me."
Simon Harris, Ireland's tánaiste (deputy prime minister), said his country "expects international law to be upheld and all those on board the flotilla to be treated in strict accordance with it".
In Gaza, Israel is stepping up its assault on Gaza City as Hamas weighs its response to a new US plan to end the war. Arab and Turkish mediators are understood to be pressing Hamas for a positive response, but a senior Hamas figure has said the armed group is likely to reject it.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a final warning to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the city to evacuate southwards, saying those who remained during the offensive against Hamas would be "terrorists and supporters of terror".
The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that "under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected whether they stay or leave Gaza City".