Gaza-Bound aid Flotilla Intercepted by Israeli Navy
Mediterranean Sea – Israeli naval forces have intercepted and boarded a flotilla of ships attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, according to organizers. The incident occurred approximately 70 nautical miles from the Gazan coastline, halting the group’s planned arrival on Thursday morning.
The organizers initially 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.”
This is at least the third attempt this year to deliver aid to Gaza by sea, following previous interventions by Israel in June and July. the Israeli government has dismissed the flotilla as a “selfie yacht,” a characterization challenged by activist Greta Thunberg, who told the BBC on Sunday: “I don’t think anyone would risk their life for a publicity stunt.”
The effort comes as international aid agencies struggle to deliver essential food and medicine to the Palestinian territory, citing restrictions imposed by Israel. Israel maintains it is working to prevent supplies from reaching Hamas, and supports the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as an alternative distribution system.However, the United Nations has refused to cooperate with the GHF, deeming its setup “unethical.”
Last month, a UN-backed group confirmed famine conditions in Gaza, attributing the crisis to Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of aid. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refuted this claim, calling it an “outright lie.”
Several nations expressed concern and sought assurances regarding the safety of those aboard the flotilla. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated France had worked to ensure “that any possible boarding operation would take place under the best possible security conditions.” Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he received assurances from Israeli Foreign minister Gideon Saar that Israeli forces would not use violence against the 500 people on board, including French and Italian politicians.
Ireland’s tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Harris stated his country “expects international law to be upheld and all those on board the flotilla to be treated in strict accordance with it.”
Meanwhile, Israel is escalating its military offensive in Gaza City, issuing a final evacuation warning to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.Defense Minister Israel Katz stated those remaining in the city during the offensive would be considered “terrorists and supporters of terror.” the International Committee of the Red Cross emphasized that “under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected whether they stay or leave Gaza City.” The escalation coincides with Hamas’s consideration of a new US plan to end the ongoing war, though a senior Hamas figure indicated the group is likely to reject the proposal.
