The organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said that Israeli forces have stopped 13 foreign activists' ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, about 30 of the flotilla's ships continue to move towards Gaza.
According to Reuters, a video released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry shows one of the flotilla's most prominent participants, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, sitting on the deck of a ship surrounded by soldiers.
"Several ships of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped, and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. "Greta and her friends are safe and sound," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on its X platform.
The Global Sumud flotilla comprises more than 40 civilian ships, carrying approximately 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists. The flotilla is transporting medicine and food to Gaza.
In videos posted on Telegram, the boatmen, showing their passports, claim that Israel has kidnapped and transported them. They emphasize that their mission is exclusively peaceful and humanitarian in nature.
The incident has sparked an international outcry. Turkey, Spain, and Italy have sent ships or drones to support their citizens.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has described Israel's actions as a "terrorist attack" that endangers the lives of innocent people.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of all Israeli diplomatic personnel on Wednesday over the detention of two Colombians on board the boat.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned Israel's actions on Thursday, saying Israeli forces had detained eight Malaysian citizens.
