‘Act of terror’: Israel blasted over seizure of Gaza Sumud Flotilla

Israeli forces have boarded and taken control of several ships that are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had been attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, and that had garnered global attention as one of the biggest naval aid missions to the Palestinian enclave.
The flotilla – which in all includes more than 40 civilian boats and about 500 activists – was intercepted by Israeli forces late on Wednesday, with activists on board detained and taken to Israel.
Israeli forces arrest activists, including Greta Thunberg, on board the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip after intercepting their boats.
The Gaza aid flotilla’s progress across the Mediterranean Sea has garnered international attention as nations, including Turkiye, Spain, and Italy , sent boats or drones in case their nationals
required assistance.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned in the "strongest terms" Israel's interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, warning that his country will take all legal measures to hold Tel Aviv accountable, especially when its citizens are involved.
"I urge the immediate release of all Malaysian and international activists and volunteers," Anwar said Thursday in a post on the US social media company X’s platform.
Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry called Israel’s “attack” on the Global Sumud Flotilla “an act of terror” that endangered the lives of innocent civilians.
The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office said it launched an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens on board the vessels, including for deprivation of liberty, seizure of transport vehicles, and damage to property, the Anadolu news agency reported.
Israel had previously said that it would do whatever it takes to stop the Gaza-bound flotilla, claiming the volunteers were trying to “breach a lawful naval blockade” – a claim that goes against international law.
Israel intercepted a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid, according to statements from the flotilla organisers.

They reported that Israeli naval forces boarded the vessels about 70 nautical miles (130km) off the coast of Gaza, cutting communications and jamming signals as the flotilla neared the blockaded enclave.
Saif Abukeshek, spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, said more than 201 people from 37 countries were on board these boats. This included 30 participants from Spain, 22 from Italy, 21 from Turkiye and 12 from Malaysia, among others.

Activists described shadowy encounters with unlit boats and drones tailing the convoy, heightening tensions on board. “On Wednesday … at around 8:30pm [17:30 GMT], multiple vessels of Global Sumud Flotilla – notably Alma, Surius, Adara – were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli Occupation Forces in international waters,” a flotilla statement said.
“Prior to illegally boarding the ships, it appears as though the Israeli naval vessels intentionally damaged ship communications, in an attempt to block distress signals and stop the livestream of their illegal boat boarding.”
Despite carrying only a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, the flotilla had pressed forward with its mission to establish a maritime corridor into Gaza, where nearly two years of Israel’s genocidal war have left the population facing an acute humanitarian crisis. (Al Jazeere and agencies)