Israeli Navy Attacks Gaza Aid Flotilla, Detains Over 450 Activists

ISTANBUL, Oct 3 (Bernama-AA) -- Israeli naval forces attacked an international aid flotilla bound for the besieged Gaza Strip and detained more than 450 activists on board, its organisers said Thursday.

Anadolu Ajansi reported the Global Sumud Flotilla said on social media platform Instagram that 42 boats were illegally intercepted by Israeli forces.

“Their passengers unlawfully abducted,” it added. “The world saw what happens when civilians challenge a siege. And still - Marinette sails on.”

According to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG), the vessel Marinette continues sailing toward Gaza but is still far away after a late arrival due to technical malfunctions.

The Sumud Flotilla confirmed that more than 450 activists from 47 countries were transferred to Ashdod Port in southern Israel.

The activists aboard the ships attacked by Israel were of various nationalities, including Spaniards, Italians, Brazilians, Turks, Greeks, Americans, Germans, Swedes, British, Malaysians and French citizens, and many others.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the detained activists were on their way to Israel's Ashdod Port, from where they would be deported to Europe.

Anadolu citing Israel’s public broadcaster KAN earlier reported that naval forces seized 41 vessels carrying about 400 participants as they sailed toward Gaza in a 12-hour operation.

KAN said all flotilla vessels were towed to Ashdod Port in southern Israel.

The Sumud Flotilla said Israeli forces surrounded the vessels as they sailed toward Gaza to challenge Tel Aviv’s years-long Israeli blockade. Activists reported signal jamming and communication cut aboard most of the boats.

Several activists posted videos on social media showing Israeli naval boats approaching the convoy and ordering them to change course.

The flotilla, loaded mainly with humanitarian aid and medical supplies, set sail at the end of August. It was the first time in years that around 50 ships sailed together toward Gaza, carrying hundreds of civilian supporters.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza, home to nearly 2.4 million, for nearly 18 years, and further tightened the siege in March when it closed border crossings and blocked food and medicine deliveries, pushing the enclave into famine.

Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment has killed more than 66,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The UN and rights groups have repeatedly warned that the enclave is being rendered uninhabitable, with starvation and disease spreading rapidly.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU