ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Israel's navy intercepted an activist flotilla in international waters off Cyprus on Monday, halting the latest attempt to challenge a naval blockade of Gaza and draw attention to the grim living conditions for Palestinians in the war-battered coastal territory.
More than 50 vessels departed from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, last week in what the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the final leg of their planned journey to Gaza’s shores.
The activists' livestream showed them putting on life jackets and raising their hands as a boat carrying Israeli troops approached. When the troops boarded, the livestream abruptly ended.
Other footage showed Israeli forces on speedboats approaching and instructing the activists to move to the front of the boat. At least 31 boats were intercepted in the operation by Monday evening, according to Global Sumud Flotilla's tracker.
The interceptions took place well outside Cypriot territorial waters that stretch 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the island's coastline, at a location some 167 kilometers (104 miles) away, according to the national center responsible for search and rescue operations there.
The center said it had not received any distress calls from the area. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides also said that Israel did not inform Cypriot authorities of its intention to intercept the flotilla.
Israeli troops boarded the flotilla vessels in broad daylight
Organizers said the boats were intercepted 250 nautical miles (463 kilometers) from the shores of Gaza. Unlike previous interceptions, which mostly took place under the cover of night, the Israeli military boarded the boats in broad daylight.
Israel has maintained a sea blockade of Gaza since the Palestinian militant group Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, and it intensified that blockade in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel which killed around 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage. Critics say the blockade amounts to collective punishment.
Israel has said the blockade, which restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, was meant to prevent Hamas from arming itself. Egypt, which has the only border crossing with Gaza not controlled by Israel, has also greatly restricted movement in and out of the enclave.
Source: WPLG
