Israel intercepts 'Freedom Flotilla' ships bound for Gaza, transfers dozens of activists to Crete

Organizers of the 'Global Freedom Flotilla Initiative' announced today, Friday, that more than 100 international activists have arrived at the Greek island of Crete, following the interception of their ships by Israeli naval forces in international waters. These ships had departed from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12, on a humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and delivering relief aid to the besieged population.

Sources reported that a warship belonging to the occupation army transferred 168 participants in the flotilla to Greek boats, which then transported them to the shore, where buses and ambulance teams were waiting for them. This step comes after Israeli authorities confiscated several ships that formed the second convoy as part of the global initiative's efforts, which began several months ago to address the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

In the context of diplomatic developments, Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares Bueno, confirmed the arrival of 30 Spanish citizens in Crete after their release. However, the minister condemned the illegal detention of Spanish citizen Saif Abu Kashk, demanding that Israeli authorities release him immediately and ensure his safety during his forced transfer to Israel.

For its part, the Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed that the detention of Abu Kashk and another activist was due to suspicion of their affiliation with a 'terrorist organization' and engaging in illegal activities. Israeli authorities claimed they would transfer the activists to interrogation centers inside Israel to complete legal procedures against them, which sparked a wave of international human rights criticism.

Organizers of the flotilla revealed through their official channels horrific details about the conditions of the activists' detention on board Israeli warships, describing the treatment as '40 hours of deliberate cruelty.' They explained that the detainees were denied sufficient food and water, and soldiers deliberately flooded the floors where the activists slept repeatedly to increase their suffering.

Reports from the organizers spoke of severe physical injuries among the activists, including broken noses and ribs, as a result of being kicked and violently dragged across the ships' decks. These assaults occurred while participants were attempting to peacefully protest the detention of their colleagues and the restriction of their movement, reflecting the extent of violence used against the humanitarian mission.

On the international level, the foreign ministries of Germany and Italy expressed their grave concern over the recent developments in international waters near Greece. The two ministries issued a joint statement affirming that they are closely monitoring the situation, amidst escalating tensions resulting from the interception of civilian ships carrying essential humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip.

Despite the Israeli interception of 22 ships, field sources confirmed that 47 other ships are still continuing their voyage off the southern coast of Crete. These ships plan to temporarily dock before continuing their journey towards Gaza, with each ship carrying about a ton of food and urgent medical supplies to support the collapsed health sector.

In a biased stance, the US State Department threatened to impose 'consequences' on entities and individuals supporting the Freedom Flotilla, describing the movement as supportive of Hamas. This threat comes at a time when international warnings of worsening famine in Gaza are increasing, and diplomatic efforts to secure safe and sustainable maritime corridors for aid have failed.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time the Israeli army has targeted the Freedom Flotilla, as it previously stopped a similar convoy last October and arrested hundreds of participants, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. These naval attempts continue amidst assurances from relief organizations that land supplies are still completely insufficient to meet the needs of more than two million displaced people living in catastrophic conditions.

The activists endured 40 hours of deliberate cruelty, forced to sleep on waterlogged floors, and some suffered fractures due to physical assault.