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 method 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 had been reportedly surrounded a whole bunch of miles from Israel, in territorial waters for which Greece is accountable, and the activists had 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 had been apparently crusing in the direction of Israel. Among these arrested had 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 instant launch of all illegally stopped Italians, full respect for worldwide regulation 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 observe 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”.
https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/fermate-alla-grecia-22-navi-flotilla-175-attivisti-arrestati-AI341KnC