Arabic version: قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي تعترض 41 قاربًا في قافلة مساعدات غزة

Organisers of an aid flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip reported that Israeli forces intercepted 41 of their boats in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with 10 vessels still making their way towards the besieged area. The Global Sumud Flotilla stated that the remaining boats were approximately 121 nautical miles (224 km) from Gaza as of Tuesday morning.

The flotilla, which launched from the Turkish port city of Marmaris last week, aimed to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces began storming the boats in international waters off the coast of Cyprus on Monday, leading to the abduction of several activists.

In response to the Israeli actions, foreign ministers from multiple countries, including Turkiye, Spain, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, Libya, and the Maldives, condemned the raids, labeling them as “blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law.” They expressed serious concern for the safety of the civilian participants and called for the immediate release of all detained activists.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously directed the flotilla to abandon its mission, urging them to change course and turn back immediately. Among those reported as “illegally kidnapped” by Israeli forces is Margaret Connolly, an Irish doctor and sister of President Catherine Connolly. The president expressed her deep concern over her sister’s safety following discussions in London with King Charles III.