Israel intercepts the Flotilla off Cyprus. At least 9 Italians detained
Israeli forces took control of Gaza-bound boats. According to the Turkish Anadolu Agency, the operation is taking place in international waters
According to Israeli media, Tel Aviv's armed forces have taken control of the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla, lying towards Gaza, in the waters off Cyprus. A live stream, shown by the Times of Israel, shows Israeli navy commandos boarding one of the expedition ships off the coast of Cyprus.
Boarding operations
"A few minutes ago, IOF (Israeli Occupation Forces) ships began intercepting the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla," communicated the initiative's spokeswoman in Italia, Maria Elena Delia, stressing that the operation is taking place "illegally" and "in international waters". The Turkish news agency Anadolu reports that "Israeli forces have started to attack the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters". According to tracking data, the Global Sumud Flotilla, which consists of some fifty boats heading towards the Gaza Strip, is currently west of Cyprus, having departed from Turkey on Thursday.
Flotilla: 'Lost contact with a ship after Israeli intervention'
The flotilla claimed to have lost contact with one of its boats after an Israeli intervention. "Two warships were spotted near the boats in the Mediterranean. We lost contact with one of our boats, which was harassed by the Israeli army,' said the Flotilla's crisis unit, as reported by Anadolu, which points out that the operation is taking place in international waters. According to Israeli media, however, IDF soldiers took control of the Flotilla boats off the waters of Cyprus.
Some of the Italians on board stopped
"For sure, two of the eight boats flying the Italian flag have already been intercepted and some of the35 Italians who are on board, at least 7 or 8, have already been caught." The spokeswoman for Italia of the Global Sumud Flotilla reported. "The thing that strikes us is that they are acting for the first time in broad daylight, during the morning, it was something that had never happened," she stressed. Some of the boats that escaped the Israeli interception were reportedly instructed to head towards Egypt to regroup for their next moves. Among the boats heading towards the Egyptian coast would be the one on which 5 Star Movement MP Dario Carotenuto, the only Italian politician to have taken part in this expedition, is travelling.
Tajani: 'Israel respects the rules of international law'
"We have sent a clear message to Israel: they must make sure they respect the rules and international law. Even if Italian citizens are detained, they must always be treated with the utmost respect for the dignity of the person'. This was said by the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, commenting on the new Israeli attack on the Flotilla ships.
