The spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition told Al Jazeera that 13 ships have been seized by the Israeli navy out of a total of 44 participating in the international flotilla aiming to break the siege on Gaza. According to correspondents, the vessels intercepted by Israel were carrying dozens of international activists before being forced to divert their course towards the port of Ashdod.
The Freedom Flotilla, organised to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, accused the Israeli navy of “hostile and aggressive behaviour” against the participating vessels. In a statement released on Telegram, the coalition reported that the ship Florida was deliberately rammed at sea, while the vessels Yolara, Metik, and others were targeted with high-pressure water cannons.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 13 confirmed that the navy had already taken control of six flotilla ships and that the operation would continue into Thursday. The Freedom Flotilla reported that the fate of crews and activists on board the intercepted ships remains unknown. However, it confirmed that Israeli forces had arrested participants on the vessel Sirus, including Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent, Hayat al-Yamani.
The Israeli broadcaster also stated that naval forces stormed several ships earlier in the day and began the process of forcibly seizing the flotilla. This followed the encirclement of the flotilla by Israeli warships, which cut off communications between the participating vessels.
Prior to the attack, flotilla organisers had declared a state of high alert, anticipating Israeli attempts to block the aid mission. They reported the presence of nearly 20 Israeli warships advancing towards the flotilla.
Despite European governments urging the activists to halt their mission and Israeli intimidation tactics at sea, the organisers had insisted earlier that they would continue sailing towards Gaza with the aim of breaking the blockade and delivering aid to the besieged population.
