‘Flotilla vessel blocked’: Switzerland lodges protest over Israel stopping Gaza-bound ship; demands unhindered access to citizens

Police officers work during the protest in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla after ships were intercepted by the Israeli navy (AP image)

Switzerland on Friday announced that it will file a diplomatic protest with Israel after Israeli security forces curtailed a visit by Swiss diplomats to detainees from the Gaza aid flotilla.The Swiss foreign ministry in a statement said the visit was interrupted, preventing embassy representatives from speaking at length with the detained Swiss nationals, news agency Reuters reported.Nineteen Swiss citizens were among dozens of activists on a flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli naval blockade since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The flotilla was initially intercepted by Israeli forces on Wednesday as it approached Gaza. On Thursday, the activists were taken into custody off Gaza’s coast and subsequently transferred to Ketziot prison, according to the Waves of Freedom flotilla group.Hundreds of other activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg were also detained in what was the latest attempt to challenge Israel’s blockade.The Swiss foreign ministry said it would demand immediate and unhindered access to the detained nationals to assess their health and conditions of detention. Swiss representatives spent eight hours at Ketziot prison on Friday and plan to return on Sunday.The flotilla, organized under the Global Sumud, included hundreds of activists from around the world, including Thunberg. Israeli authorities described the mission as a “stunt,” stating the vessels had been warned they were entering an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade.The interception sparked global protests in multiple countries, including Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Turkey, Belgium, Argentina, Colombia, Malaysia, Australia and Bangladesh.Demonstrators demanded justice for the detained activists and showed support for the Greta Thunberg–led operation.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the navy for safely capturing the flotilla participants, confirming that no one was harmed.