An Israeli official said more than 400 activists aboard 41 vessels were detained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn an operation that lasted roughly 12 hours, Israeli navy personnel foiled a large-scale incursion attempt by hundreds of individuals aboard 41 vessels that had declared their intention to breach the legal maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip,\u201d the official said, adding that more than 400 activists had been detained at Ashdod port.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll passengers are in good health. No violence has been exercised,\u201d Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said, according to state broadcaster ERT.<\/p>\n
The Greek organisers of the flotilla announced that 11 Greeks who were on the vessels were on hunger strike to protest against their \u201cillegal detention by the Israeli authorities\u201d.<\/p>\n
Israel said the activists would be deported to Europe.<\/p>\n
\u201cHamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin,\u201d the foreign ministry said on X, posting photos of Thunberg and other activists aboard a boat.<\/p>\n
Greta Thunberg is one of many activists deported by Israel. Photo \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u2018Piracy\u2019<\/p>\n
Amnesty International criticised Israel for blocking the flotilla, saying it was an \u201cact of intimidation intended to punish and silence critics of Israel\u2019s genocide and its unlawful blockade on Gaza\u201d.<\/p>\n
Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel sparked the war in Gaza, condemned the interception of the flotilla as a \u201ccrime of piracy and maritime terrorism\u201d.<\/p>\n
With the war in Gaza dragging on, solidarity with the Palestinians has grown globally, with activists and increasingly governments condemning Israel for its conduct.<\/p>\n
Spain and Italy, which both sent naval escorts to protect their citizens on board the flotilla, had urged the activists to halt before entering Israel\u2019s declared exclusion zone off Gaza, saying they would not be allowed to pass that mark.<\/p>\n
The boats, with dozens of activists from around the world on board, initially set sail from several European ports.<\/p>\n
After a 10-day stop in Tunisia, where organisers reported two drone attacks, the flotilla resumed its journey on September 15.<\/p>\n
\u2018Intimidation\u2019<\/p>\n
In Italy, which has already seen a general strike in support of the flotilla, hundreds of protesters turned out on Wednesday in Rome.<\/p>\n
In Naples, demonstrators blocked trains at the main station for around an hour before being cleared by police.<\/p>\n
Unions have called for another strike on Friday to urge stronger action from the government against Israel\u2019s actions in Gaza.<\/p>\n
Turkey called the interception \u201can act of terrorism,\u201d and on Thursday said it had opened an investigation after Israeli forces arrested Turkish citizens on board the flotilla.<\/p>\n
Israel blocked similar flotilla attempts in June and July.<\/p>\n
People take part in protest against Israel’s navy attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla in Milan, Italy. Photo \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
Mandela\u2019s grandson<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Spain summoned Israel\u2019s top representative in Madrid, the foreign minister said, saying that 65 Spaniards were travelling with the flotilla.<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s public prosecutor also launched an investigation into the interception, examining potential human rights violations that could constitute crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded the \u201cimmediate\u201d repatriation of six Mexicans who were part of the flotilla, insisting they had \u201ccommitted no crime\u201d.<\/p>\n
But Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the attempt to reach Gaza.<\/p>\n
\u201cI continue to believe that all this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people,\u201d Meloni told reporters.<\/p>\n
She earlier said the voyage could jeopardise US President Donald Trump\u2019s latest proposed Gaza peace plan, currently still under negotiation.<\/p>\n
South Africa urged Israel to immediately release the activists, who include Mandla Mandela, the grandson of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.<\/p>\n
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