A new aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, carrying essential food and medical supplies, has been intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters.
The convoy — consisting of nine vessels and approximately 150 people — was stopped on its way to Gaza, according to organisers from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza, who were jointly managing the operation.
In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said:
“Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing.”
The interception comes just days after Israeli forces halted another flotilla of 42 boats carrying 479 pro-Palestinian activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. Nearly all participants of that previous convoy have since been deported, though six individuals reportedly remain in detention.
All Nine Boats Halted Off Gaza Coast
Organisers of the latest mission initially reported that three of their boats had been intercepted early Wednesday morning, roughly 120 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast. Within hours, tracking data confirmed that all nine vessels had been stopped by Israeli forces.
In an official statement, the Israeli government said:
“The vessels and passengers have been transferred to an Israeli port. All passengers are safe and in good health.”
Authorities added that the individuals on board would be deported promptly.
International Condemnation and Turkish Response
The flotilla’s 150 passengers come from a wide range of nations, including Turkey, whose foreign ministry condemned the interception as “a grave violation of international law” and “an act of piracy.”
Context: War and Blockade
Israel launched its ongoing military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken into Gaza.
Since then, Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, reports that at least 67,183 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks.
Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, after Hamas seized control of the territory. The blockade has been heavily criticised by international human rights organisations, which say it has contributed to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Rising Humanitarian Toll
Gaza’s health authorities say at least 460 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition since the war began, including 182 deaths recorded since a famine was declared in Gaza City, which has been the focal point of Israel’s recent military operations.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), backed by the United Nations, has confirmed that famine conditions exist in Gaza City, warning that the crisis could spread across the Strip within weeks if aid access does not improve.
Israel, however, disputes the IPC’s findings and insists it complies with international humanitarian law, maintaining that it is actively facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza through controlled crossings.
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