Hundreds of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla , the expedition headed to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and break the naval blockade, were blocked by the Israeli navy. Numerous vessels were intercepted yesterday and today off the coast of Cyprus in international waters.
The expedition also includes two Sardinians who are among those arrested. They are Ilaria Mancosu and Gianfranco Frongia . Their names appear on the lists of vessels arrested in recent hours. Ilaria Mancosu, originally from Olbia, was aboard the vessel Amazon. Frongia, on the other hand, was aboard the Last Dream crew.
More than sixty vessels have been intercepted. The Global Sumud Flotilla, according to an official statement, "has received confirmation that hundreds of civilian participants abducted during yesterday's illegal Israeli naval assault on the high seas are currently being forcibly transported by Israeli occupation forces to a port in occupied Palestine."
However, this is only general information. "The Flotilla," they say, " demands the immediate and unconditional release of all our participants and also calls on world leaders to demand the release of the Flotilla participants, the release of Palestinian political prisoners and hostages, and an end to the genocide and blockade of Gaza."
As live streams on social media showed, Israeli commandos boarded the boats in broad daylight, after jamming their radio distress calls with Britney Spears's "Oops, I Did It Again," mocking activists who claimed they had also been ignored by Cypriot authorities.
