The Israeli military raided the Global Steadfast Flotilla and detained its crew
Israeli personnel boarded one of the convoy’s vessels and Israeli soldiers have detained all members.
Relief supplies are ready to be delivered to Gaza, but an offer has been made to transfer aid through secure channels for the sake of safety, said an Israeli navy spokesperson.
Gaza (Web News)
Israel raided the Global Steadfast Flotilla and detained its crew. According to sources, live broadcasts from the vessels in the Global Steadfast Flotilla were cut off while communication between several flotilla ships was lost. Flotilla organizers say Israeli personnel boarded one of the convoy’s vessels and Israeli soldiers detained all members. Earlier, the organizers of the Global Steadfast Flotilla had announced that they had declared a state of emergency on their ships. Thiago Ovila, a member of the flotilla’s steering committee, said in an audio message sent from his vessel that “we are reaching a decisive phase of our mission; at the moment we are approaching their [Israel’s] naval blockade.” He added that a large number of Israeli ships are present here, which corresponds with reports from the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the media saying that our mission would be stopped illegally tonight, even though our objective is to break the siege and establish a humanitarian corridor.
An Arab journalist on the flotilla reported that at least 12 suspected Israeli ships are about four nautical miles away from them; however, it is not clear whether those ships are closing the distance or are simply positioned as a barrier to stop the flotilla. It should be noted that more than 450 people from 44 countries are aboard the Steadfast Flotilla, including Pakistan’s former senator Mushtaq Ahmad. Israel has warned the flotilla against violating the legal naval blockade. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the flotilla was ordered to change course; relief supplies are ready to be delivered to Gaza, but an offer was made to transfer the aid via secure channels for the sake of safety, the Israeli navy spokesperson said. The flotilla was instructed to head toward the Ashdod port; aid would be unloaded at Ashdod port and transferred to Gaza by secure means.
It should be noted that more than 450 people from 44 countries are aboard the Steadfast Flotilla, including Pakistan’s former senator Mushtaq Ahmad. Israel has warned the flotilla against violating the legal naval blockade. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the flotilla was ordered to change course; relief supplies are ready to be delivered to Gaza, but an offer was made to transfer the aid via secure channels for the sake of safety, the Israeli navy spokesperson said. The flotilla was instructed to head toward the Ashdod port; aid would be unloaded at Ashdod port and transferred to Gaza by secure means.