Israeli raid in international waters, Flotilla ships blocked and activists kidnapped
It happened overnight off the coast of Crete: "This is piracy." Dozens of Italians were on board, the Farnesina is working.Per restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
The Israeli navy seized some 21 Flotilla vessels and detained 158 activists "hundreds of kilometers from the Israeli coast" and informed them that they were "under arrest," Israeli media reported.
Military speedboats intercepted the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail for Gaza on April 26 to deliver aid in international waters off Crete. Activists claimed they were subjected to a "violent raid in international waters," during which Israeli forces "systematically disabled several Global Sumud Flotilla vessels."
There are dozens of Italians on board, which is why Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani immediately activated the Crisis Unit.
"The driving force behind the flotilla's provocation is Hamas, in collaboration with professional provocateurs, with the aim of sabotaging the transition of President Trump's peace plan to its second phase," the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated, also confirming the illegal boarding in international waters. "Due to the size of the flotilla, consisting of over a hundred ships and a thousand men, it was decided to intercept it far from the Israeli coast, in international waters.
"Piracy"
"Israel's actions this evening mark a dangerous and unprecedented escalation: the kidnapping of civilians in the middle of the Mediterranean, more than 960 kilometers from Gaza, before the eyes of the entire world. Let us be clear about what this is. This is piracy, the illegal kidnapping of human beings on the high seas near Crete," the Flotilla said in a statement, emphasizing that Israel can "operate with total impunity, well beyond its borders, without facing consequences."
Again: "The Israeli navy has intercepted ships, jammed communications, including emergency channels, and forcibly abducted civilians. These are not disputed border areas. These are international waters. Even more alarming is the silence. Governments claiming to uphold international law have, once again, said nothing. No urgent condemnation. No immediate demand for the release of prisoners. No call for those responsible to be held accountable. This lack of response is not neutrality, it is authorization and it is complicity."
A "catastrophic" precedent, in short, denounces the Flotilla, which asks where the "kidnapped" civilians are and wonders whether European governments have collaborated.
(Unioneonline/L)