Israeli forces have intercepted the final boat, the Marinette, from the Global Sumud Flotilla that was on its way to Gaza.
The Polish-flagged Marinette, which reportedly has a crew of six, was the final boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla – once a 44-strong fleet – to be seized by Israel.
With this act, the Israeli military has dismantled an entire humanitarian flotilla seeking to break its siege on war-ravaged Gaza, arresting hundreds of activists from dozens of vessels.
Global Sumud Flotilla said that the Marinette, the last vessel that was sailing towards the Palestinian enclave, was intercepted at 10:29am (7:29 GMT).
In livestream footage from the boat seen before the camera was shut, Israeli commandos could be seen approaching the Marinette on their boat, and then boarding the aid vessel.
The flotilla’s organisers said that the Marinette was 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza at the time — which means it was in international waters.
The group pledged that the seizures would not mark the end of their mission. “Our determination to confront Israel’s atrocities and stand with the Palestinian people remains unshaken,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a post on Instagram.
“As people rise up in cities worldwide to demand an end to these horrors and to take a stand for humanity, we rise together with one voice:We will not stop until the genocide ends.We will not stop until Palestine is free.”
Global Sumud Flotilla
It also called for the release of all 461 activists detained by Israeli naval forces.
The International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza announced in a statement that several detainees arrested by Israeli forces had “entered an open-ended hunger strike from the moment of their detention.”
Meanwhile, activists say that another flotilla is sailing towards the Gaza Strip in an attempt to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said that the Conscience boat left Italy on Wednesday carrying about 100 activists, many of them healthcare workers and journalists.It joins eight other vessels that departed nearly a week earlier.
The nine ships are currently off the coast of the Greek island of Crete, according to live tracking data.
4 Flotilla Activists Deported, Others Being Processed
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that it has already deported four Italian citizens who joined the flotilla and is preparing to deport the rest of the activists. “Israel is keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible,” the ministry said in a post on X. It claimed that all 461 of the detained activists are “safe and in good health.”
Separately, Bangladesh joined the chorus of criticism against Israel, condemning Israel’s attack on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla and demanded the immediate, unconditional release of the aid and rights workers seized at sea.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry called the Israeli action a “flagrant violation of international law and a brazen manifestation of Israel’s use of hunger as a weapon of war.”
Dhaka urged Israel to guarantee the safety of those detained and to end what it described as a genocidal war and humanitarian blockade in Gaza.
“The much-needed humanitarian aid flotilla represents global solidarity with the occupied Palestinian people. Israel must allow its unhindered access to Gaza, where civilians are being denied their basic rights to life, dignity and livelihood.”
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry
Bangladesh, a South Asian nation of 170 million people, does not recognise Israel.
