Gaza Freedom Flotilla announces 11 new ships sailing to break 'Israeli' blockade

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla (GFF) announced that nine ships are currently sailing toward Gaza in an effort to break what it described as 'Israel’s' “decades-long illegal siege” on the coastal enclave.

The announcement comes in the wake of 'Israel' intercepting more than 40 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in previous efforts and detaining at least 500 participants on Thursday.

According to the coalition, about 100 people are aboard the boats, off the coast of Crete.

The GSF has accused the Israeli Occupation of unlawfully intercepting dozens of civilian aid vessels in international waters, detaining hundreds of passengers and preventing desperately needed supplies from reaching Gaza.

According to the flotilla’s organizers, naval units used water cannons, skunk water, and electronic jamming to disable communications before forcing volunteers off their ships. The activists, representing 47 countries, were reportedly transferred to the MSC Johannesburg, a naval vessel, and their whereabouts remain unclear.

“This is an unlawful abduction, in direct violation of international law and basic human rights,” the flotilla said in its statement. “Intercepting humanitarian vessels in international waters is a war crime; denying legal counsel and concealing the fate of those seized compounds that crime.”

Meanwhile, the 'Israeli' navy claimed on Friday morning that it had taken control “just moments ago” of the ship Marinet, which it described as the last vessel of the Global Sumud Flotilla attempting to reach the Gaza Strip.

'Israel’s' official broadcasting authority cited military sources stating that the takeover of Marinet occurred early Friday in the Mediterranean Sea, and that those on board would be taken to Ashdod port, following the same procedure as other detained activists.

Livestream video showed Israeli forces forcing their way onboard the last vessel Friday morning. The Polish-flagged Marinette, which reportedly has a crew of six, was the final boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla – once a 44-strong fleet – to be seized by Israel.

The International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza also announced in a statement that several detainees arrested by Israeli forces had “entered an open-ended hunger strike from the moment of their detention.”

In response to the interception of the flotilla boats, Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday expelled all remaining ‘Israeli’ diplomats in the country.

Petro said two Colombian women, "who were engaged in human solidarity activities with Palestine," were detained by ‘Israeli’ forces in international waters.

In a statement, his office said Manuela Bedoya and Luna Barreto were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) and called for their immediate release.

The leftist Petro severed relations with ‘Israel’ last year but four diplomats remained posted in the country. Writing on X, Petro announced the expulsion of "the entire diplomatic delegation of Israel" over what he called "a new international crime" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He also terminated a free-trade deal in force with ‘Israel’ since 2020.

Colombia's leader is one of Netanyahu's most vocal critics, calling him "genocidal," while also slamming US President Donald Trump as an "accomplice" to "genocide."

Last week, Petro attended a pro-Palestinian protest in New York, where he called on the US military to "disobey" Trump. Washington revoked Petro's visa over his remarks.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa described Israel's interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla as a "grave offence" against "global solidarity and sentiment that is aimed at relieving suffering in Gaza".

Ramaphosa called on Israel to immediately release South Africans and others, including liberation hero Nelson Mandela's grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela. (Agencies)

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza, home to nearly 2.4 million, for nearly 18 years, and further tightened the siege in March when it closed border crossings and blocked food and medicine deliveries, pushing the enclave into famine.