Palestinian Presidency Condemns Occupation's 'Piracy' Against the Fleet of Steadfastness and Demands Accountability for Ben-Gvir

The Palestinian Presidency issued a strongly worded statement condemning the crime committed by the occupation's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, following the interception and detention of the 'Global Fleet of Steadfastness' ships in the open Mediterranean Sea. The Presidency affirmed that this assault, which occurred in international waters, constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, as the activists were on a peaceful humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and delivering relief aid to the besieged population.

The Palestinian Authority expressed its deep dismay at the provocative scenes published by Ben-Gvir during his visit to Ashdod port, which showed Arab and international solidarity activists handcuffed and lying on the ground in a humiliating position. Sources indicated that the occupation authorities exerted psychological pressure on the detainees, including forcing them to listen to the Israeli anthem, which reflects the racist mentality with which the current government operates and its boasting of human rights violations before the international community.

On the ground, the occupation's crimes continued in the Gaza Strip, where citizen Raafat Adel Barika (42 years old) was martyred after being targeted by a bomb from a 'quadcopter' drone in the Al-Shakoush area west of Rafah. This coincided with intense artillery shelling targeting the eastern neighborhoods of Khan Yunis, in addition to extensive demolition operations of residential buildings northeast of the city, raising the death toll from Israeli violations since last October to 883 martyrs and thousands injured.

In a related context, the attacks extended to Lebanese territories, where four people were martyred in a raid targeting a health authority center in the town of Hanaway, amidst economic estimates indicating that the aggression's losses in Lebanon have reached approximately 20 billion dollars. The Palestinian Presidency called on the United Nations and the international community to assume their legal and moral responsibilities to pressure Tel Aviv to lift the siege on Gaza and stop the war of annihilation that has left 90% of the Strip's infrastructure destroyed.

The abuse and humiliation suffered by international activists constitute an illegal act and maritime piracy that contradicts the freedom of international navigation.