The Israeli Navy carried out a raid on the Greek ship “Oxygen” which was participating in the international mission Global Sumud Flotilla destined for Gaza.
The Greek vessel “Oxygen” along with the Global Sumud Flotilla fleet of ships from other nations, which was carrying humanitarian aid, food and medicine along with activists, was intercepted while sailing in open waters towards Gaza.
In total, 19 of the 44 vessels in the flotilla have been intercepted by the Israelis who told those on board to immediately change course and unload their cargo at an Israeli port. However, dozens of other vessels continue their course approaching Gaza despite the interventions of the Israelis.
In a post on social media, the activists of the Greek ship “Oxygen” write:
“The ship Oxygen has been intercepted by Israeli forces in an act of international piracy and in violation of International Law and the Law of the Sea.
Our comrades are being abducted at this moment and are being taken to an unknown location against their will.
We demand that the Greek government guarantee their immediate and safe return to the country.”
Earlier, Peti Perka, a member of parliament for New Left who was on the ship “Oxygen”, posted a video on Instagram in which she states that Israeli warships appeared: “For a moment, we believed, we wanted to believe that we would be able to be in Gaza tomorrow afternoon and hug those children who are waiting for us. Unfortunately, as we expected, 4 miles ahead of the first ships, Israeli warships have appeared. So we expect them to come to us as well.”
Another Greek ship is also participating in the international mission with humanitarian aid to Gaza and continues to sail.
In an announcement, the Global Sumud Flotilla stated earlier: “30 ships continue to sail towards Gaza, only 46 nautical miles away, despite continuous attacks by the Israeli navy.”
Spain and Italy had sent warships to accompany the flotilla for part of the journey, the Associated Press reported.
As the flotilla’s spokesperson, Saif Abukeshek, stated to Agence France-Presse, the Israelis had already intercepted 13 vessels with approximately 200 people on board, among them many from Spain and Italy.
Abukeshek stressed that “our mission continues,” adding about the vessels that remain on course: “They are determined, they have the motivation and are doing everything in their power to be able to break the siege from early in the morning.”
In an announcement by the Global Sumud Flotilla, mention is made of an illegal attack on unarmed humanitarians.
The organization reported that the remaining vessels are approximately 70 nautical miles from Gaza and plan to continue undeterred.
Meanwhile, French Member of the European Parliament of Palestinian origin Rima Hassan, who was aboard a vessel of the Global Sumud Flotilla that was intercepted by Israelis before reaching the Gaza Strip, accused Israel of “illegally” and “arbitrarily” detaining hundreds of mission members.
“Hundreds of citizens, workers for humanitarian organizations and peaceful activists who were aboard vessels of the Global Sumud fleet, were arrested and are being arbitrarily held by Israel,” Rima Hassan states in her message, calling on the competent authorities to demand their immediate release.
“Before the illegal boarding of the vessels, it appears that Israeli warships deliberately destroyed the communication systems, in an attempt to block distress signals and stop the live broadcast of the illegal boarding. Beyond the vessels that have been confirmed as intercepted, live broadcast and communication with several more vessels has been lost,” the activists reported.
Furthermore, the Global Sumud Flotilla fleet denounced “an illegal attack against unarmed humanitarian organization workers” and called on “governments, world leaders and international institutions to demand the safety and release of all passengers”.
The Global Sumud Flotilla reported yesterday that it is in a state of emergency with Israeli vessels having begun the intervention operation.
According to international media, nearly 20 Israeli warships were in the area, while drones were flying over the vessels.
The live video broadcast from the cameras has stopped on many vessels due to Israeli interference.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, sometimes referred to as the Global Freedom Flotilla, is an international maritime initiative led by civil society aiming to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. And to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
The initiative was organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Movement for Gaza, the Sumud Flotilla from the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya), the Sumud from Southeast Asian countries and the Sumud Nusantara mission which is a movement from Malaysia and eight other countries.
In total, the Global Sumud Flotilla consists of over 40 vessels with 500 participants from more than 44 countries, making it the largest civilian-led flotilla of its kind in history.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is the largest naval mission organized to break the Israeli siege of Gaza.
Coordinated by many organizers, sailors, doctors, artists, and solidarity activists from more than 44 countries, the flotilla is a non-violent humanitarian mission responding to the ongoing genocide and siege of the Palestinian people.
As had been announced in international media, vessels of all sizes would set sail from ports all over the world heading towards Gaza to open a maritime humanitarian corridor.
The main vessels set sail from Barcelona, Spain on September 1st, heading east across the Mediterranean Sea, and have been joined by vessels from other countries along the way.
Among the participants are the former mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau, Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, and European parliamentarians. Organizers say that representatives from 46 countries have committed to participate, with activists including army veterans, doctors, clergy, and lawyers.
Most of the flotilla was sailing in international waters north of Egypt on Wednesday morning and had passed into the so-called “danger zone” where Israeli authorities have stopped previous flotillas.
The flotilla brings together participants and organizers from the Global March to Gaza, the Sumud Convoy, the Sumud Nusantara, and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, building on decades of Palestinian resistance and international solidarity to change the global narrative and confront international complicity.
Independent of any government or political party, the GSF is guided by a commitment to justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life.
If not interfered with, the organizers stated they would reach the coast of Gaza on Thursday morning.
Organizers say the participating vessels were targeted three times by unmanned aerial vehicles: twice in Tunisia, on September 8 and 9, and once while sailing south of Greece last week.
In this latest attack, the activists’ flotilla stated it was targeted during the night by “unknown unmanned aerial vehicles and communications interference.” Activists stated that “at least 13 explosions” were heard in and around many vessels of the flotilla, while unmanned aerial vehicles or aircraft dropped “unknown objects” on at least 10 vessels.
No casualties were reported, but there was damage to the vessels and “widespread communications disruption,” it added.
The United Nations, the EU, and others warn against the use of violence. “Freedom of navigation under international law must be upheld,” stated Eva Hrncirova, a spokesperson for the European Commission.
The Global Sumud Flotilla denounced “aggressive actions” by Israeli forces against the Global Sumud Flotilla convoy. “The vessel Florida was intentionally rammed.
The vessels Yulara, Meteque and others became targets of water cannons”, reports the “Global Sumud Flotilla” (GSF) in a message via the Telegram platform.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled the Israeli diplomatic delegation, after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s flotilla by Israeli forces.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that all necessary actions have been initiated for the swiftest release of the Turkish citizens held by the Israeli forces and pre-announces the taking of legal measures against those responsible for the operation.
The announcement by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs states “The attack carried out by Israeli forces in international waters against the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had set out with the aim of providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, constitutes a terrorist act that blatantly violates International Law and endangers the lives of innocent civilians.
This attack, which targets civilians moving for peaceful purposes without resorting to violence, proves that the fascist and militaristic policies of the genocidal Netanyahu government, which condemns Gaza to famine, are not limited to Palestinians, but target all those who struggle against the oppression exercised by Israel. We hope that this attack will not harm the efforts to achieve a truce in Gaza.
From the beginning of the journey, we have been acting in coordination with the other countries whose citizens are among the participants in the flotilla. In this context, all necessary actions have been initiated for the swiftest release of our citizens and the other passengers held by the Israeli forces. We will also resort to legal means to hold the perpetrators of the attack accountable.
We call upon the UN and all relevant international organizations to immediately take action for the swiftest lifting of the illegal blockade of Gaza, the provision of humanitarian aid to the area, and the safeguarding of freedom of navigation”.
In France, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on the Israeli authorities to guarantee “the safety of the participants” in the mission.
