The Israeli occupation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Saturday, the transfer of activists from the 'Global Freedom Flotilla,' dedicated to breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip, to interrogation centers within the occupied territories. This step came after the occupation army carried out a military interception operation against the flotilla's ship last Thursday while it was sailing off the Greek coast. Occupation authorities claim that the detainees will be investigated for links to banned organizations and activities they describe as illegal.
Sources revealed that the detained activists are the Spaniard Saif Abu Kashk, whom Tel Aviv accuses of leading the 'Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad,' and the Brazilian activist Thiago Avila. They have been referred to law enforcement authorities to complete security investigations, amidst ongoing Israeli efforts to prevent any maritime aid convoys from reaching the residents of the Gaza Strip, who are suffering from a severe blockade.
Field reports indicate that the Freedom Flotilla was subjected to a violent assault in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, where occupation forces used seven warships and drones to take control of the convoys. The attack resulted in injuries to about 31 activists, after occupation forces cut off all internet and communication services to the ships before suddenly storming them 1500 kilometers from the coast.
According to activists' testimonies, the occupation detained between 180 and 211 international solidarity activists on board a war destroyer, part of which was converted into a 'floating prison' for three days. Those released described the conditions inside the destroyer as inhumane, where they were subjected to beatings, sleep deprivation, and continuous abuse, before 59 of them were deported to Istanbul Airport and another group to the Greek island of Crete, with the Spanish and Brazilian activists remaining in detention.
It is worth noting that the Global Freedom Flotilla includes more than 20 boats loaded with essential medical and food aid, and is completely devoid of any weaponry. Participants, including human rights activists and international figures, aim to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. These Israeli measures face widespread international human rights criticism, as they constitute a violation of conventions guaranteeing freedom of navigation and the delivery of humanitarian relief to affected areas.
Intercepting ships in international waters is considered a blatant violation of freedom of navigation and humanitarian conventions that ensure the delivery of aid to besieged civilians.
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Occupation transfers international activists from 'Freedom Flotilla' for interrogation after their ship was intercepted