Israel should release Gaza aid flotilla detainees immediately

 
The Israeli military forces have dismantled an entire humanitarian flotilla seeking to break its siege on war-ravaged Gaza, arresting hundreds of activists from dozens of vessels. Peace activists want the flotilla detainees to be released by Israel immediately.

Livestream video showed Israeli forces forcing their way onboard the last vessel Friday morning. The Polish-flagged Marinette, which reportedly has a crew of six, was the final boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla – once a 44-strong fleet – to be seized by Israel.

The International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza also announced in a statement that several detainees arrested by Israeli forces had “entered an open-ended hunger strike from the moment of their detention.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry says it has already deported four Italian citizens who joined the flotilla and is preparing to deport the rest of the activists. “Israel is keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible,” the ministry said.

It claimed that all 461 of the detained activists are “safe and in good health”. Earlier, the Global Sumud Flotilla called on Israel to release all its activists.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned Israel’s detention of journalists, who were among hundreds of activists seized from the vessels.
RSF said there were more than 20 foreign reporters on board the flotilla. The journalists were arrested between Wednesday and Thursday when the Israeli navy began intercepting the boats ferrying politicians and activists towards Gaza, RSF said. Vessels with more than 450 people on board had been prevented from reaching the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Navy. “Arresting journalists and preventing them from doing their work is a serious violation of the right to inform and be informed,” said Martin Roux, head of the group’s crisis desk.

“RSF condemns the illegal arrest of the news professionals who were on board these ships to cover a humanitarian operation of unprecedented scale.”

Speaking via video call with flotilla organizers late on Thursday, the Australian captain of the last boat en route, who identified himself only as Cameron, explained that the boat initially had engine issues and was therefore lagging behind the main group. The vessel is now “steaming” towards Gaza, Cameron added.

“We have a bunch of very tough Turks onboard. We’ve got a lady from Oman and myself and we’re just going to continue in that direction,” he said.
Israel’s foreign ministry had previously warned the Marinette that “its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented”. Israel’s naval forces have stopped dozens of boats carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza and detained about 500 activists from more than 40 countries.