Israel’s interception of several vessels of the Global Sumud flotilla carrying aid to Gaza has sparked global reactions and even protests in some countries as people condemn the act.
Countries in Europe Africa and Asia have united in their calling for Israel to respect international law and human rights in its handling of the occupants of the vessels in the flotilla.
Spokesperson for the British government released a statement saying they had been in touch with Israel.
"We have been in contact with the Israeli authorities to make clear that we expect the situation to be resolved safely, in line with international law and with due respect for the rights of all those on board.
"The aid carried by the flotilla should be turned over to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered safely into Gaza. It is the responsibility of the Israeli government to resolve the atrocious humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
South Africa also joined the international calls especially as Mandla Mandela the grandson of its former President Nelson Mandela is thought to be in the flotilla.
"The interception in international waters off the coast of Gaza reinforces Israel’s continued violation of international law and infliction of suffering, including starvation, on the Palestinian people..."
"South Africa calls on Israel to ensure that the life-saving cargo transported by this flotilla reaches the people of Gaza, as the flotilla represents solidarity with Gaza, not confrontation with Israel," it said in a statement on Thursday.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the expulsion of Israel’s entire diplomatic delegation, following the detention of two Colombian women who were part of the humanitarian flotilla.
Calling the detentions a potential “new international crime” Petro also announced the immediate termination of Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel.
And Türkiye’s foreign ministry called it “an act of terror” that endangered the lives of innocent civilians.
In Istanbul hundreds of demonstrators gathered in support of Palestinians and in condemnation of Israeli actions.
Protesters assembled outside the Israeli consulate, chanting anti-Israel slogans and urging the Turkish government to take stronger measures in defence of the flotilla.
In Buenos Aires, protesters took to the streets demanding the release of the detained activists. Organisers called the interception a criminal attack and urged world leaders to condemn Israel.
In Greece, many also gathered outside the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The flotilla consists of 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 people including parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, and aims to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.
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.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 18 January, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights and restoring citizenship to stateless Kurds, as government forces continued advancing into Kurdish-held territory in northern Syria despite U.S. calls for restraint.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened a sweeping new round of tariffs on several European allies unless the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a diplomatic row over the Danish Arctic territory.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday (17 January) that concerns over security in Greenland should be addressed within the framework of NATO, describing a ground military intervention as highly unlikely.
Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft, arguing that the companies profited unfairly from his early support of the artificial intelligence firm, according to a court filing made public on Friday.
The Turkish Defence Ministry has voiced its support for recent military operations by Syrian government forces against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy the support of the United States.
Tens of thousands of users were left unable to access Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Friday, with outages reported across multiple countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Armenia has reaffirmed that it has no intention of taking any actions directed against Iran, with senior officials stressing that relations with Tehran remain friendly and constructive.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on 16 January, offering Russia’s help to mediate tensions and promote dialogue in the Middle East.
Ashley St. Clair, mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, has filed a lawsuit against Musk’s company xAI, alleging that its AI tool Grok generated explicit images of her, including one portraying her as underage.
The world is entering a more unstable and fragmented phase as global cooperation declines and rivalry between major powers intensifies, the World Economic Forum has warned.
The Trump administration has denied a report that countries would be required to pay $1bn to join a proposed U.S.-backed peace initiative, after Bloomberg News said a draft charter set out a membership fee.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 18 January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened a sweeping new round of tariffs on several European allies unless the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a diplomatic row over the Danish Arctic territory.
Leaders from several countries have received invitations to join a so-called U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’, an initiative that would initially aim to end the conflict in Gaza before expanding to address other global disputes, diplomats said on Saturday.
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