\u201c[It\u2019s] pretty unnecessary. They could have got all the information they needed about us from one circle around us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve gone over to the Thousand Madleens fleet to get some more information. We\u2019re not 100% sure it\u2019s the Israelis, but I don\u2019t know who else would be flying military aircraft over the top of us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess they\u2019re trying to intimidate us a little bit, but all good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swarbrick captioned her shared story \u201c@william.alexander153 and Ava have just been abducted by Israel along with other members of the Conscience aid ship\u201d.<\/p>\n
Aid ship The Conscience was reportedly intercepted by Israeli forces about 5pm NZ time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in touch with MFAT [Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade] to ensure our [sic] their safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition website, The Conscience was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea today at 5pm (NZ time).<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s sister Kate Day said in a statement that the flotilla had been sailing in international waters to deliver humanitarian aid, \u201ca mission that is protected under international law\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIsrael is breaking international law by disrupting this mission, and its decision to do so has the direct impact of denying food to children who are starving,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease join me in writing to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister to do everything in their power to ensure Will and Ava\u2019s safe return.\u201d<\/p>\n
An MFAT spokesperson said the ministry was aware of reports a second flotilla had been intercepted by Israeli authorities. <\/p>\n
\u201cMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade consular officials are seeking further information.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s Foreign Ministry posted to X earlier this afternoon that \u201canother futile attempt\u201d to breach the blockade \u201cended in nothing\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander previously made headlines for a hunger strike over the war in Gaza<\/a>.<\/p>\n He went without food for 19 days<\/a> and said he had stopped the hunger strike after being contacted by people from Palestine pleading with him to eat because his health had deteriorated.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were standing there in the rubble with a sign with my name on it and they sent their love but asked me to stop. Enough people have lost their lives<\/a>. Enough people have been damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n Previous intercepts<\/p>\n Three other Kiwis have previously been intercepted by IDF forces after taking part in Gaza flotillas. <\/p>\n