People worldwide strongly condemned Israeli forces for illegally boarding the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) ships on October 1-2 before reaching Gaza. Zionist state Israel’s soldiers arrested 450 individuals from more than 40 countries who traveled aboard over 44 ships to deliver food aid and other necessities to Palestinians facing genocide.
Among those arrested were the well-known environmental activist Greta Thunberg and Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, the renowned leader who fought against apartheid in Africa. According to GSF organizers, the Zionist Israeli blockade of their ships amounted to an act of “piracy” and an attack on “unarmed humanitarians” in international waters, in violation of freedom of navigation and international humanitarian law. They called the Israeli forces’ illegal abduction of the passengers, as well as their immediate deportation without legal counsel or process, an act of “kidnapping.”
The GSF consisted of around 40-44 small vessels that began sailing from ports in Spain, Italy, Tunisia, and Greece last August. They carried several tons of food, medicine, and essential supplies for Palestinians in Gaza. Onboard were doctors, lawyers, and parliamentarians who viewed the mission as a nonviolent stand against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Most GSF vessels were simultaneously boarded about 70 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Soldiers armed with heavy weapons attacked and stormed them using water cannons. The one vessel that briefly broke through, the Marinette carrying six activists, was intercepted by Israeli forces 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza on October 3. The flotilla ended there.
While sailing, the governments of Spain and Italy pretended to send “escort” ships for the flotilla. However, before reaching Gaza’s maritime territory, they retreated and returned to their homelands to avoid a “diplomatic incident.” Italy’s naval forces even tried to persuade GSF participants to stop sailing and instead return to Italy. Turkey, meanwhile, deployed drones until Israeli forces stormed the GSF ships, but it took no further action.
“This is not the end… We will continue to sail until Gaza is free,” declared the GSF organizers. They also announced plans for a larger flotilla in the future that would be joined by 1,000 ships.
