Israeli naval forces have intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of more than 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 participants, including parliamentarians, lawyers, activists, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and actor Susan Sarandon, as well as aid for Gaza.
A Mexican crew member on board the flotilla, Arlin Medrano, reported in a live broadcast that a dozen Israeli military vessels were approaching the convoy in international waters, calling the interception “totally illegal” and in violation of international law.
Medrano urged the Mexican government to ensure the safety of the two Mexican citizens on board in case of interception. She said the flotilla would continue its mission even if some vessels were stopped, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza for the first time since 2007.
Organisers said the interception occurred after Israeli warships blocked communications and moved to halt the convoy. No immediate details were available regarding possible detentions or the fate of the ships.
Earlier, activists reported seeing more than a dozen Israeli vessels ahead of them and said all flotilla ships had switched to “alarm mode.”
Live footage from the Alma vessel showed crew members wearing life jackets and seated in a circle as they prepared for a possible boarding.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the flotilla was being directed toward the port of Ashdod, where aid can be unloaded and transferred to Gaza, and said Thunberg and other participants are safe.
The United Nations called for the safety and rights of those on board to be respected. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “We do not want anyone to get hurt, and we want people’s rights to be respected. We want to make sure everyone is safe.”
The flotilla, carrying humanitarian and medical supplies, set sail at the end of August from Genoa and Barcelona, aiming to reach Gaza. Marine tracking data placed the vessels about 150 nautical miles (278 km) from Gaza, an area considered high-risk due to previous interceptions.
The mission comes amid warnings from humanitarian agencies about severe shortages of food, medicine, and aid in Gaza, where a blockade has been in place for nearly 18 years.
Rescuers pulled two people from the rubble of a collapsed building under construction in the Philippines, raising the death toll to three. Search and ...
Thousands of visitors flocked to Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau island on Sunday for the annual Bun Festival, as crowds gathered to watch the famous “flo...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 25th May, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Australian activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza have claimed they were subject to ...
A Washington and Tehran peace agreement is yet to materialise after U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal between the countries was yet to be fully...
Thousands of visitors flocked to Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau island on Sunday for the annual Bun Festival, as crowds gathered to watch the famous “floating children” parade and prepare for the traditional midnight bun-scrambling competition.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 25th May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australian activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza have claimed they were subject to abuse and beatings, which left some hospitalised. Israel’s prison service denies the allegations.
A Washington and Tehran peace agreement is yet to materialise after U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal between the countries was yet to be fully negotiated, despite earlier saying the pact was 'largely negotiated.'
The inaugural Enhanced Games began in Las Vegas on Sunday (24 May), launching one of the most controversial experiments in modern sport, in which athletes openly compete using performance-enhancing drugs banned under traditional anti-doping rules.
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, though the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.
Police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters in central Belgrade on Saturday, as tens of thousands gathered to demand early elections and an end to the more than decade-long rule of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić.
A Washington and Tehran peace agreement is yet to materialise after U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal between the countries was yet to be fully negotiated, despite earlier saying the pact was 'largely negotiated.'
An explosion on a railway track in Pakistan's Quetta killed at least 24 people, news outlet Al Arabiya reported on Sunday, citing officials.
Rescuers pulled two people from the rubble of a collapsed building under construction in the Philippines, raising the death toll to three. Search and rescue operations continued after scans detected signs of life beneath the debris.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 25th May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australian activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza have claimed they were subject to abuse and beatings, which left some hospitalised. Israel’s prison service denies the allegations.
Azerbaijan has made a notable appearance at one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, with a large delegation participating in the CHIO Aachen tournament in Germany, according to the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation.
More than 900 suspected cases of Ebola have been identified, including 101 confirmed cases, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment