Gaza-bound flotilla says Israeli forces intercepting fleet near Cyprus

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP): Israeli forces were intercepting a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Monday after it set sail from Turkey last week, with organisers saying one of the vessels was stopped west of Cyprus.

“Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IDF forces are currently boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight,” the Global Sumud Flotilla posted on X.

“We demand safe passage for our legal, non-violent humanitarian mission. Governments must act now to stop these illegal acts or piracy meant to maintain Israel’s genocidal siege on Gaza.

“Normalisation of the occupation’s violence is a threat to us all.”

Around 50 ships had departed from southwestern Turkiye on Thursday as part of the flotilla.

On Monday, Israel had vowed to block the vessels.

“Israel will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” the foreign ministry posted on X.

“Israel calls on all participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately.”

The ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether Israeli forces were intercepting the boats.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is the third initiative in a year aimed at breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has suffered severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October 2023.

Israeli authorities reject claims of aid shortages, saying the Palestinian territory is “flooded” with supplies.

Israeli forces intercepted the second flotilla in international waters off Greece on April 30, expelling most of the activists to Europe.

But they arrested two of them, who were held for several days in Israel before they were deported.

Rights groups said the arrests were illegal and that the men suffered abuse while in Israeli detention.

Israeli authorities have rejected the abuse allegations but filed no charges against the pair.