Blocked by the Israelis in worldwide waters off the Greek island of Crete. Thus ended the navigation of twenty-two of the roughly 70 boats of worldwide activists headed to Gaza to deliver humanitarian assist. After yesterday’s cupboard assembly on safety associated to the Flotilla, Prime Minister Netanyahu wished to intervene preventively, not permitting the fleet to strategy the Strip. “A real attack against civilians in international waters” the Flotilla’s press officer, Gur Tsabar, denounced to Al Jazeera, urging “immediate intervention” from governments around the globe to “guarantee the safety of the Flotilla and to ensure that the humanitarian corridor to Gaza can be opened.” The ships have been reportedly surrounded tons of of miles from Israel, in territorial waters for which Greece is accountable, and the activists have been threatened at gunpoint and arrested. “Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters – Tsabar explained – Intercepting or boarding these boats would be equivalent to illegal detention, potentially a seizure on the high seas”. The Global Sumud Flotilla additionally denounced in a press release that Israeli forces had “destroyed the engines and navigation systems” of the boats and that “the military then retreated, intentionally abandoning hundreds of civilians on crippled and damaged ships, right in the path of an incoming violent storm.” “Furthermore, communications with several vessels were interrupted, preventing them from coordinating or calling for help,” they added. This is the case of the Tamtam ship (Al Bassa), the place the Israelis boarded, broken the engines, sail and technique of communication, leaving the crew of seven on the boat adrift. “An action that puts the lives of the crew at serious risk – Maria Elena Delia, Italian spokeswoman for the Flotilla, explained to Sole 24 Ore – especially in light of the fact that a storm is coming. Other ships of the Fleet have in fact returned to sea to rescue their colleagues”.
After boarding the 22 boats, Israeli forces arrested 175 activists who have been apparently crusing in the direction of Israel. Among these arrested have been 21 of the 57 Italians who participated within the mission, round thirty Spaniards and 20 Turks. The Italian Government condemned the seizure of the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla and requested the Government of Israel for the quick launch of all illegally stopped Italians, full respect for worldwide legislation and ensures concerning the bodily security of the folks on board.
“The attack by Israeli forces in international waters against the Global Sumud Flotilla, organized to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, constitutes an act of piracy.” This is the accusation contained in a notice from the Ankara Foreign Ministry, which states that “by targeting the Global Sumud Flotilla, whose mission is to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe affecting the innocent population of Gaza, Israel has also violated humanitarian principles and international law”. Ankara speaks of an “act of aggression”, a “violation of the principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas” and asks the worldwide group to “adopt a united position against this illegitimate act by Israel”.
According to the tales of some activists, one other 17 ships managed to flee and enter Greek waters. According to the official web site of Global Sumud Flotilla, 36 ships are nonetheless crusing.
Israel’s place is totally different and, regardless of opposite testimony from the United Nations and NGOs working within the Strip, continues to take care of that Gaza has been “flooded” with assist. And he provides that behind the Global Sumud Flotilla there may be “Hamas” which “allies itself with professional provocateurs, with the aim of sabotaging the transition to the second phase of President Trump’s peace plan and diverting attention from Hamas’ refusal to disarm”. “Like the previous provocations, this too is nothing more than a publicity stunt: a provocation without any humanitarian aid” they are saying from the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Only yesterday, Emergency, the Italian NGO based by Gino Strada, as soon as once more denounced the important state of affairs of the inhabitants in Gaza. “There are stories – stated Irdi Memaj, Emergency physician – which present that 77% of the inhabitants is in section 3 as regards to meals security, which signifies that households eat solely as soon as a day” or, the doctor continues, in order to be able to obtain food supplies they are forced to sell the means of production or let children work”.
https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/fermate-alla-grecia-22-navi-flotilla-175-attivisti-arrestati-AI341KnC