Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla and detains activists including Greta Thunberg

Dozens of activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, have been detained by Israeli forces after a flotilla carrying aid bound for Gaza was intercepted.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said several vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) had been “safely stopped” and those aboard were being transferred to an Israeli port to be deported.

The boats intercepted were in international waters about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast. Israel has been policing this area but does not have jurisdiction there.

Israel said its navy had told the boats to change course as they were “approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade”.

The GSF described the interceptions as “illegal” and “not an act of defence”, but “a brazen act of desperation”.

The group has alleged that one vessel within the flotilla was “deliberately rammed at sea” and said additional boats were hit by water cannon.

A number of countries have expressed concern over the incident. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who said the interception in international waters was “contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown on the dozens of vessels in the flotilla”.

Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the interception as an “act of terrorism”, and called for the “perpetrators of this attack” to be held accountable.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has expelled all remaining Israeli diplomats from the country in response, and denounced the interception as an “international crime by [Israel’s Prime Minister] Netanyahu”.

Petro also terminated Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel, in place since 2020, and called for the release of two Colombians who were aboard the flotilla.

However, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the attempt to reach Gaza, saying: “I continue to believe that all this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted footage from the interception showing Greta Thunberg sitting on the deck of a boat, being handed water and a jacket by a member of the Israeli military. Detained activists are being taken to the port of Ashdod, Israel said.

The Israeli government, which has branded the attempt to transport humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza a “provocation”, said: “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy.”

People have gathered in Greece, Italy, Germany, Tunisia and Turkey to protest against Israel’s interception of the flotilla. Its actions have also drawn criticism from Pakistan, Bolivia and Malaysia.

In Italy, spontaneous rallies took place in some cities on Wednesday evening. Its main trade union CGIL confirmed it was backing a general strike on Friday in solidarity with Gaza and in response to what it said was the “abandonment” of Italian workers “in open international waters” by the Italian government.

In a statement the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for Israel to “urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material through all means possible”, adding it must agree to facilitate impartial humanitarian relief schemes “without hindrance”.

The UK foreign office said it had been in contact with the families of the British nationals on board boats. It added it had contacted the Israeli authorities to “make clear we expect the situation to be resolved safely”.

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris called the reports “concerning” and said he expects Israel to uphold international law, with at least seven Irish citizens among the detained, including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews.

The flotilla left Spain a month ago, with more than 40 ships and around 500 people on board, including European parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, intending they say to take aid directly into Gaza.

Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July.

While the Israeli government has characterised the flotilla as a “selfie yacht”, Thunberg has pushed back against that criticism, telling the BBC on Sunday: “I don’t think anyone would risk their life for a publicity stunt.”

International aid agencies have been attempting to get food and medicine into the Palestinian territory but say Israel is restricting the flow of supplies.

Israel claims it is attempting to stop those supplies falling into the hands of Hamas. It and the US have backed an alternative food distribution system, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) which the UN has branded unethical and “inherently unsafe”.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed group considered an impartial expert body, confirmed last month that there was famine in Gaza, and the UN’s humanitarian chief said it was the direct result of Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of aid entering the territory.

Netanyahu has called this an “outright lie,” rejecting the evidence presented by the IPC.