Israeli Navy Stops Gaza-Bound Flotilla; Greta Thunberg and Others Detained

The Israeli military has intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla before it could reach Gaza, detaining a number of activists, including Greta Thunberg. The flotilla was trying to break the Israeli siege of Gaza, which has been in effect for 18 years. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the ships were halted and passengers were being taken to an Israeli port. The ministry also indicated that Thunberg and her colleagues were unharmed. A video of Thunberg was released. Israel has not provided evidence to support its claim of a link between the flotilla and Hamas. Activists have called the interception illegal and called for international action. They stated they were carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, not weapons. Reports from Israeli media indicate that six ships have been stopped, including the vessel Alma. More interceptions are expected. Israeli soldiers boarded the ships and detained several activists. The Freedom Flotilla II, a successor to the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, was launched in 2011. The aim of this flotilla, comprised of international activists and non-governmental organizations, was to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian supplies. No previous flotilla has been successful in reaching Gaza. The current flotilla shared the same objective.