Gaza, October 2 (QNA) – Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla announced today that the Israeli Navy intercepted 40 of the 44 ships en route to the Gaza Strip as part of an international mission aimed at breaking the blockade imposed on the Strip and delivering humanitarian aid.
The Israeli occupation forces stormed the ships and arrested the activists on board. The Turkish Committee of the Global Sumud Flotilla announced that the occupation forces arrested 25 Turkish activists after illegally seizing these ships.
In a statement issued by the Committee, it explained that the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian and peaceful flotilla transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza, was subjected to an “illegal raid” by Israeli forces in international waters.
It affirmed that the Israeli occupation’s practices constitute a serious violation of international law and maritime security, emphasizing that the flotilla set out entirely for humanitarian purposes.
Media sources reported that at least two ships continued their journey to the Gaza Strip, despite the Israeli occupation forces intercepting most of the flotilla’s boats.
This is the first time that approximately 50 ships have sailed together toward Gaza, carrying 532 civil society activists from more than 45 countries, in addition to humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies.
The International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza reported that the Israeli occupation navy had confirmed that some of the flotilla’s ships had been raided.
International organizations, including Amnesty International, called for protection for the “Sumud Flotilla,” while the United Nations affirmed that any attack on it was “unacceptable.”