KEY POINTS
- Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza, detaining around 200 people from 37 countries.
- Among those held were Greta Thunberg and former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmed.
- Protests erupted in cities worldwide, with 10,000 people marching in Rome and Italian unions calling a strike.
- Pakistan, Turkiye, Malaysia, Colombia and Spain strongly condemned the Israeli action.
- Colombia expelled Israel’s diplomatic mission and ended a free trade deal in response.
- Flotilla organisers said 30 boats were still sailing towards Gaza despite Israeli raids.
ISLAMABAD: Israel’s interception of the aid flotilla bound for the besieged people of Gaza has drawn strong international criticism and sparked protests across several world capitals on Thursday, with governments, unions and activists denouncing the action as a violation of humanitarian rights.
The Israeli military on Wednesday attacked the flotilla and arrested around 200 people, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmed.
According to a spokesperson for the flotilla, the Israeli forces have detained over 200 individuals from 37 countries. They include 30 from Spain, 22 from Italy, 21 from Turkiye, and 12 from Malaysia.
Mass demonstrations were held in major world cities against the Israeli assault on the Gaza aid flotilla on Thursday.
The Israeli action also drew official condemnation, and many governments censured the Israeli regime and threats of strikes were made.
Thousands turned out in Italian cities to back the Global Sumud Flotilla, which consisted of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, including Greta Thunberg.
Large-scale rallies were also reported in other European capitals, including Brussels, Athens, Buenos Aires and Berlin, while the Spanish government called on Israel to protect the safety and rights of activists, the British daily Guardian said in a report.
Hundreds chanted “let’s block everything” gathered in front of Rome’s Termini station, prompting authorities to limit access and close some metro stops.
Demonstrations were also held in Milan, Turin and Genoa, while protesters in Naples and Pisa briefly occupied station platforms and blocked trains, Reuters reported.
Italian media estimated 10,000 protesters showed their support for the flotilla and staged the street protest in Rome.
“The aggression against civilian ships that were carrying Italian citizens is an extremely serious matter,” the CGIL union said, calling the strike which other smaller unions said they would join.
Over the past two weeks, protesting Italian dockworkers have prevented various ships from docking and loading, targeting vessels they say are involved in trade with Israel.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, transporting medicine and food to Gaza, consists of around 45 civilian boats with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.
The flotilla put out several videos on Telegram with messages from individuals aboard the various boats, some holding their passports and claiming they were abducted and taken to Israel against their will, and reiterating that their mission was a non-violent humanitarian cause.
The flotilla is the most high-profile symbol of opposition to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Its progress across the Mediterranean Sea garnered international attention as nations including Turkiye, Spain and Italy sent boats or drones in case their nationals required assistance, even as it triggered repeated warnings from Israel to turn back.
Britain’s government said it was in touch with a number of its nationals involved in the flotilla and was “very concerned” about Israel’s interception of the vessels.
“The aid carried by the flotilla should be turned over to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered safely into Gaza,” the foreign ministry said.
Turkiye’s foreign ministry called Israel’s “attack” on the flotilla “an act of terror” that endangered the lives of innocent civilians.
Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned the “dastardly attack” by Israeli forces on the Sumud Gaza flotilla.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X, said, “This barbarity must end. Peace must be given a chance and humanitarian aid must reach those in need.”
He expressed the hope and prayed for the safety of all those who have been illegally apprehended by Israeli forces and called for their immediate release.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office called for immediate release of all humanitarian workers and activists onboard the Gaza aid flotilla.
The Foreign Office in a statement said that Pakistan strongly condemned the interception of the flotilla.
“The unlawful detention of international activists onboard the flotilla constituted yet another flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law by Israel, and endangers the lives of innocent civilians,” the Foreign Office statement added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of Israel’s entire diplomatic delegation on Wednesday following the detention of two Colombians in the flotilla. Israel has not had an ambassador in Colombia since last year.
Petro called the detentions a potential “new international crime” by radical Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and demanded the release of the Colombians. He also terminated Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday condemned Israel’s interception of the flotilla, adding Israeli forces had detained eight Malaysians.
“By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world,” Anwar said in a statement.
Israel’s interception of the flotilla sparked protests in Italy and Colombia.
Italian unions called a general strike for Friday in solidarity with the international aid flotilla.
Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, calling it “a flagrant breach of international law”.
In a statement posted on X, the Independent MP said: “Israel has illegally intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla. This disgraceful assault is a flagrant breach of international law.
“It is an affront to our common human decency. And it is a further denigration of the Palestinian people, who are being starved to death by Israel.”
He criticised the UK government for ignoring warnings that the flotilla would be targeted.
“Once again, we call on the government to defend international law, impose widespread sanctions and stop arming Israel,” he wrote.
Corbyn added that “history will side with the flotilla–– and their bravery will only inspire more people to join our global movement for Palestine”.
30 boats sailing towards Gaza
The flotilla is the latest sea-borne attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, much of which has been turned into a wasteland by almost two years of war.
The flotilla’s organisers denounced the raid as a “war crime”. They said the military used aggressive tactics, including the use of water cannon.
“Multiple vessels … were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli Occupation Forces in international waters,” the organisers said in a statement.
The boats were about 70 nautical miles off the war-ravaged enclave when they were intercepted, inside a zone that Israel is policing to stop any boats approaching.
The organisers said their communications had been scrambled, including the use of a live camera feed from some of the boats.
According to the flotilla’s ship tracking data, 13 boats had been intercepted as of early Thursday. Organisers have remained defiant, saying in a statement that the flotilla “will continue undeterred”.
Thirty boats were still sailing towards Gaza, flotilla organisers said in a post on Telegram early on Thursday, stating they were 46 nautical miles away from their destination.
The flotilla had hoped to arrive in Gaza on Thursday morning if it was not intercepted.
