Dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces off Crete left their boats on Friday, with many taken to hospital on the Greek island while others were flown out.
Greek officials said 31 of the roughly 175 activists had been taken to hospital on Crete, while Turkish officials said about 60 had arrived by plane in Istanbul on Friday evening.
More than 50 vessels had set sail from ports in France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking the blockade of Gaza and bringing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.
Photo: Reuters
Israeli forces halted the boats overnight Wednesday to Thursday, with organizers the Global Sumud Flotilla saying their equipment had been smashed and that the intervention had left them facing a “calculated death trap at sea.”
Israel controls all entry points to Gaza. It has been accused by the UN and foreign non-governmental organizations of strangling the flow of goods into the territory, causing shortages since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas in October 2023.
The Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier said about 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 vessels on Thursday by its country’s military. Flotilla organizers put the number of “kidnapped” activists at 211.
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Oren Marmorstein on Friday said: “All the flotilla activists are now in Greece except Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila.”
In a post on X, the ministry called the flotilla “another provocation designed to divert attention from Hamas’ refusal to disarm,” and added that they were serving as “professional provocateurs.”
Keshek was “suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization,” and he and Avila, who is suspected of “illegal activity,” would be brought to Israel for questioning, it added.
Several European governments with nationals among those arrested have called on Israel to free the activists and called its action a flagrant contravention of international law.
Spain demanded the immediate release of Keshek, a Spanish national.
The US, said the flotilla was a “stunt” and the vessels should be denied port access, docking, departure and refueling.
A US Department of State spokesman said Washington was exploring imposing “consequences” on those who support the flotilla.
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