22 Flotilla ships stopped near Greece, 175 activists arrested

Blocked by the Israelis in international waters off the Greek island of Crete. Thus ended the sailing of 22 of the approximately 70 boats of international activists on their way to Gaza to bring humanitarian aid. After yesterday's cabinet meeting on Flotilla-related security, PM Netanyahu wanted to take preventive action by not allowing the flotilla to approach the Strip.

"A real attack against civilians in international waters," the Flotilla's press officer, Gur Tsabar, denounced to Al Jazeera, calling for "immediate action" by governments around the world to "guarantee the safety of the Flotilla and to ensure that the humanitarian corridor to Gaza can be opened." The ships were reportedly surrounded hundreds of miles from Israel, in territorial waters whose responsibility lies with Greece, and activists were threatened with weapons and arrested. "Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters," Tsabar explained, "Intercepting or boarding these boats would amount to illegal detention, potentially kidnapping on the high seas.

The Global Sumud Flotilla also complained in a note that Israeli forces had "destroyed the engines and navigation systems" of the boats and that "the military then withdrew, intentionally abandoning hundreds of civilians on broken and damaged vessels, right in the path of a violent incoming storm". "In addition, communications with several vessels were disrupted, preventing them from coordinating or calling for help," they added. This was the case with the ship Tamtam (Al Bassa), where the Israelis boarded, damaged engines, sail and communication equipment, leaving the crew of seven on the boat adrift. 'An action that puts the lives of the crew at serious risk,' Maria Elena Delia, the Flotilla's Italian spokesperson, explained to Il Sole 24 Ore, 'especially in light of the fact that a storm is coming. Other ships of the Flotilla have in fact returned to the sea to rescue their colleagues'.

After the boarding of the 22 boats, Israeli forces arrested 175 activists allegedly sailing to Israel. Among those arrested were 21 of the 57 Italians who took part in the mission, around 30 Spaniards and 20 Turks. The Italia government condemned the seizure of the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla and asked the Israeli government for the immediate release of all the Italians illegally detained, full compliance with international law and guarantees of the physical safety of those on board.

"The attack by Israeli forces in international waters on the Global Sumud Flotilla, organised to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, constitutes an act of piracy". This is the accusation contained in a note by the Ankara Foreign Ministry, which states that "by targeting the Global Sumud Flotilla, whose mission is to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe affecting the innocent population of Gaza, Israel has also violated humanitarian principles and international law". Ankara speaks of an 'act of aggression', a 'violation of the principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas' and calls on the international community to 'adopt a united stance against this illegitimate act by Israel'.