Israeli forces detained 21 international activists and journalists and intercepted a Gaza-bound aid vessel that attempted to provide assistance to the Palestinian enclave, the Freedom Frotira Union said on Sunday.
The Flotilla Coalition said Israeli forces “hardly intercepted” the ship in international waters about 40 nautical miles from Gaza, cutting off communications with cameras just before midnight on Saturday.
“All cargo is intended to be direct distribution to a population that is non-military, civilian and facing intentional starvation and medical collapse under Israeli illegal blockade,” the group said in a statement.
It contained baby formula, food and medicine, and sailed towards Ashdodd Port on Sunday, accompanied by Israeli Navy ships, according to the operator of the Handara ship, a cargo of the aid vessel intercepted by Israeli forces.
The cargo was “intent to be direct distribution to a population facing intentional starvation…under Israel’s illegal blockade.”
The Israeli military did not immediately comment, but Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted that the navy was stopping the ship and bringing it to the coast.
The handler is the second ship run by a coalition that has prevented Israel from providing assistance to Gaza in recent months.
Greta Samberg was among the 12 activists aboard the ship Madreen when Israeli forces seized it in June. Swedish climate activists, along with others, were later deported.
Among the crew members of the French leftist lawmakers
This time, the ship carried what the Freedom Flotira coalition called “a diverse crew of activists, scholars, workers, artists, members of parliament, elected officials and journalists.”
Among them is Gabriel Catala, the French MP who represents Valdo Maan and Emma Forlow, a French Swedish member of the European Parliament (MEP), environmentalists and Palestinian activists.
“They carry the dreams of millions of people around the world and bring them a strong message of international solidarity. They will break the illegal siege of Gaza in Israel,” the group said.
The latest intercept has concerns about the rise in starvation deaths in Palestinian enclaves as Israel faces international criticism of Gaza’s worsening humanitarian situation.
Italian and Spanish governments respond
In response to the development, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he spoke with Israeli Gideon Saar this morning (Sunday).
Handala was on board with two Italian activists before intercepting. They were detained on a fleet ship of freedom and arrived at Ashdod Port, where they would be supported by staff at the Italian embassy in Tel Aviv, a statement from the Italian government said.
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that one of the citizens on the intercepted handler ships was tasked with “sending everything necessary to Gaza” to the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, a cooperative body.
The Spanish government said it plans to defend solutions for the Palestinian and two provinces at the UN General Assembly on Monday, describing what is called “inducing hunger” in Gaza as “disgraceful.”
“Daily starvation deaths: 100,000 children and 40,000 babies are at risk of death. Israel must allow for the permanent, uninterrupted, free passage of all necessary humanitarian assistance,” a statement from the Spanish government said.
Meanwhile, Adara, a local human rights group, condemned the intercept of Israeli handler ships, saying the ship’s attacks violated international law.
“The fleet never entered Israeli territory and was not intended to do so. It was heading towards the Palestinian territory, as permitted under international law,” Adara said in a statement.
“Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority over the international waters through which the ship is sailing,” the statement added.
On Sunday, Israeli forces announced that it had begun. Limited pauses A humanitarian corridor has been opened for the UN convoy after the announcement that aid will begin in Gaza after 10 hours a day in three densely populated areas of Gaza, which was announced on Saturday night.
