The "Global Sumud Flotilla," composed of 44 vessels from various countries , had a single stated objective: to symbolically and physically lift the siege of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid by sea. Israel responded by mobilizing 16 naval vessels and its Shayetet 13 naval commando unit, which boarded approximately 40 vessels in the past few hours.
According to Israeli authorities, approximately 400 people are currently detained, including several European and Italian parliamentarians. Among them are AVS MEP Benedetta Scuderi and M5S Senator Marco Croatti, both of whom were taken from the "Morgana" boat and taken to the port of Ashdod, where they are being held in a temporary identification center.
MACRON: "PROTECT THE ACTIVISTS"
"We demand that all rules be respected and that our compatriots be protected. We are closely monitoring the situation together with our most concerned European partners, particularly Italy and Spain." French President Emmanuel Macron said this, explaining that the activists' choice on the Flotilla "is a choice of commitment, in the face of a situation we ourselves have denounced in the most official manner and against which we are acting and intend to continue to act." "We are monitoring developments and will take appropriate measures," Macron added.
EVENTS THROUGHOUT EUROPE
Protests and marches following the arrest of the Flotilla activists took place not only in Italian cities (including Cagliari ) but also in other European countries. A support rally was organized in Brussels, with a march to the Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the European Commission. Other demonstrations were held in all major Belgian cities, including Antwerp, Charleroi, and Ghent. In the Netherlands, demonstrations were held in The Hague, in front of the International Court of Justice, and in Amsterdam. In France, demonstrations were held in Paris's Place de la République. Protesters also marched in Strasbourg.
ACTIVISTS IN KETZIOT PRISON
The Flotilla activists are about to disembark at the Israeli port of Ashdod, where they will be handed over to the police. From there, they will be transferred by police and prison service vehicles to the large Ketziot prison in the Negev, southwest of Beersheba, where they will be taken care of by staff, according to a plan developed by Israeli authorities. Those who refuse deportation will be tried by a special court of Interior Ministry officials, rather than a regular court, for illegal entry. According to the plan approved by Police Chief Dany Levi, approximately 600 officers will participate in the operation.
45 BOATS FROM Türkiye TO SUPPORT FLOTILLA
Forty-five civilian vessels departed from Arsuz, a town in southeastern Turkey south of İskenderun, for the eastern Mediterranean to "support the Global Sumud Flotilla," Sabah reported, publishing a video showing dozens of small boats at sea carrying activists waving Turkish and Palestinian flags.
40 ITALIANS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED
"I want to give you the latest updates: Israel has confirmed the conclusion of the Navy's operations at sea and the transfer to Ashdod has begun. The number of Italians detained is now 40." This was reported by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
ACTIVISTS ON ISRAELI SHIPS
"After Israeli naval occupation forces illegally intercepted the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful and non-violent convoy carrying food, formula, medicine, and volunteers from 47 countries to Gaza, hundreds of participants were abducted and reportedly taken aboard the large naval vessel MSC Johannesburg," the Global Sumud Flotilla said. "Adalah lawyers, who represent the flotilla participants before the Israeli authorities," the GSF explains, "have received minimal updates and have not been informed whether the approximately 443 flotilla volunteers, who were forcibly removed from their vessels, will arrive in Ashdod, where they are expected to be tried in unlawful detention."
ISRAEL: "THE PROVOCATION IS OVER"
"The Hamas-Sumud Flotilla provocation is over. None of the flotilla's yachts have succeeded in their attempts to enter an active combat zone or breach the legitimate naval blockade. All passengers are safe and sound. They are safely sailing to Israel, from where they will be expelled to Europe. One last vessel in this provocation remains at a distance. If it were to approach, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the naval blockade would also be thwarted," the Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote in X.
THE EUROPEAN UNION: "WE CONDEMN THE ATTACK. HUMANITARIAN AND MARITIME LAW MUST BE RESPECTED."
"International humanitarian and maritime law must be respected." This was stated by Eva Hrncirova, spokesperson for the European Commission, during a press briefing on the recent events involving the Global Sumud Flotilla. "We reiterate our condemnation of any drone attack or seizure against the Flotilla. We support its members because they essentially share our goal: the timely delivery of sufficient aid to Gaza to stop people's suffering."
Europe reiterated that it is "closely following what is happening in the Mediterranean and the Flotilla's route. We recognize the challenges in sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. We consistently call for full and unimpeded aid access to Gaza. We respect the humanitarian commitment of all those on board the Flotilla: we fully understand that they want to raise awareness on this issue and have the right to do so."
The CGIL leader: "The flotilla was born from the desert of politics."
"The women and men who boarded those boats to reach Gaza did so because there was a lack of political initiative. We can't stand by and watch; it's unacceptable. Sanctions were imposed against Putin, and nothing was done about Netanyahu. We are witnessing a real attempt to wipe out the Palestinian people." This is according to CGIL leader Maurizio Landini.
TAJANI: "SCUDERI AND CROATTI HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED"
The Foreign Minister announced that AVS MEP Benedetta Scuderi and M5S Senator Marco Croatti—both aboard the Morgana vessel—"were among the first to be transferred to the port of Ashdod and are being held in the identification and temporary detention center." He added that MP Arturo Scotto (Democratic Party) and MEP Annalisa Corrado (Democratic Party) have not been identified: "They traveled on a ship, the Karma, operated by the NGO Arci, which separated from the Flotilla convoy and disembarked at the Israeli port of Ashdod."
ISRAEL: "40 BOATS TAKEN CONTROL, AT PORT AT 1 PM"
Forces from the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 13 naval commando unit have boarded approximately 40 of the 47 vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to a statement. At least four are blocked at sea due to technical problems unrelated to military action. Others are continuing to sail toward Gaza but are being monitored by the Israeli Navy.
THE MIKENO WOULD HAVE REACHED THE WATERS OFF GAZA
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla's tracker, the Mikeno vessel managed to enter the waters off Gaza, but the situation is currently unclear; the tracker still shows the vessel sailing, although its speed is listed as zero knots.
MELONI: "THE LONG WEEKEND AND THE REVOLUTION DON'T GO TOGETHER."
Giorgia Meloni is in Copenhagen for the informal summit of EU leaders, which is primarily focused on the situation in Ukraine and on NATO's eastern flank.
Speaking to reporters, the prime minister reiterated that Italy will do "everything possible to bring our fellow citizens home. The Foreign Ministry is in contact with the flotilla's lawyers."
"I continue to believe," he added, "that all this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people. On the other hand, I understand it will bring a lot of hardship to the Italian people." And to the unions: "I would have expected, at least on an issue they considered so important, that they wouldn't have called a general strike on Friday. A long weekend and a revolution don't go together."
Türkiye: "ISRAEL COMMITS AN ACT OF TERRORISM"
Turkey accuses Israel of an "act of terrorism" for intercepting the flotilla. "The attack by Israeli forces in international waters against the Global Sumud flotilla, which was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, is an act of terrorism that constitutes the most serious violation of international law and endangers the lives of innocent civilians," the Foreign Ministry stated, announcing the opening of an investigation.
WHO ARE THE ARRESTED ITALIANS?
As of 8:00 a.m., 21 Flotilla vessels had been stopped and 23 had continued sailing toward Gaza. Here are some of the Italians stopped by Israeli forces and the boats they were on. - ALL INN - Pietro Queirolo Palmas, Antonio La Piccirella, and Simone Zambrin. - AURORA - Federico Frasca, Gonzalo Di Pretoro, Irene Soldati, Marco Orefice, and Sara Masi. - HIO - Lorenzo D'Agostino. - JANNOT III - Andrea Sebastiano Tribulato. - KARMA - Annalisa Corrado (Democratic Party MEP), Arturo Scotto (Democratic Party MEP), Margherita Cioppi, Michele Saponara, Paolo Romano, Saverio Tommasi, and Romano Notarianni. - MORGANA - Barbara Schiavulli, Benedetta Scuderi (Green Europe MEP), Carlo Alberto Biasoli, and Jose Nivoi. - OTARIA - Adriano Veneziani, Alessandro Mantovani, Cesare Tofani, Dario Crippa, Giorgio Patti, and Manuel Pietrangeli. - SEULLE - Fabrizio De Luca, Paolo De Montis, Ruggero Zeni, and Silvia Severini. - SIRIUS - Nicolas Calabresi.
Hamas: "Stopping Israel is piracy."
Hamas called Israel's interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla boats headed to Gaza a "crime of piracy and maritime terrorism against civilians," urging "all defenders of freedom around the world" to denounce it.
In a statement, Hamas claims that the interception "in international waters, as well as the detention of activists and journalists" aboard the ships "constitutes an act of aggression that adds to the sad record of crimes committed" by Israel. Last night, the Israeli Navy stopped several vessels in the flotilla, and the passengers were transferred to an Israeli port.
TAJANI: "FIRST DEPARTURES FOR THOSE LEAVING ISRAEL VOLUNTARILY START FRIDAY"
"I have spoken repeatedly with Israeli Minister Sa'ar, urging him to avoid aggressive actions. I am relieved to note that the rules of engagement have been respected and that so far there have been no acts of violence or complications in the operations of Israeli forces. The first departures could take place as early as Friday, especially for those who agree to leave Israel voluntarily. Those who refuse immediate expulsion will have to wait for the Israeli judicial authorities' refusal order, which could take 48-72 hours," said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
19 SHIPS INTERCEPTED, 23 ENROLL TO GAZA
Nineteen vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla have currently been intercepted by the Israeli navy. This is according to the flotilla's website, which provides real-time routes. Among those blocked is the Morgana, on which Five Star Movement Senator Marco Croatti and AVS MEP Benedetta Scuderi were traveling. Twenty-two Italians are aboard the intercepted vessels. Of the 44 vessels involved in the mission, 23 are still sailing toward the Gaza Strip, while two appear to have changed course, heading north, apparently toward Cyprus.
(Unioneonline)
