Israeli naval forces intercepted an international aid flotilla bound for Gaza on Thursday, detaining more than 450 activists and seizing more than 40 vessels, according to flotilla organisers and Israeli officials.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said on social media that 42 boats were intercepted and their passengers transferred to Ashdod Port in southern Israel. Activists came from more than 45 countries, including Spain, Italy, Brazil, Türkiye, Greece, the United States, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and France.
One ship, the Marinette, was reported to still be sailing, around 80 nautical miles from Gaza after delays caused by technical issues. Cameras broadcasting live showed armed Israeli personnel boarding vessels, with passengers wearing life vests and raising their hands. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later released video showing Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg seated on a deck surrounded by soldiers.
Israel confirmed that those detained would be deported to Europe in the coming days. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he expected deportations to begin early next week, while Turkish authorities said they had launched an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens.
The interception triggered protests in several cities, including London, Madrid, Rome, Karachi, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City. Italian unions announced a general strike for Friday in response. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the operation, while South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for the release of South Africans on board, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela.
The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG) alleged Israeli naval forces used water cannons, ramming and forcible boarding, and mistreated detainees. These claims could not be independently verified. The flotilla organisers said their vessels were less than 80 nautical miles from Gaza when intercepted. Activists reported communications being jammed. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said the operation lasted around 12 hours, with all intercepted ships towed to Ashdod.
The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid such as medical supplies and food, set sail in late August. It was the largest convoy in years to attempt to reach Gaza, consisting of more than 40 civilian vessels with parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists on board.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said Thursday that 11 ships remain sailing toward Gaza to challenge Israel’s blockade. Two vessels flying Italian and French flags departed Otranto on 25 September, joined by the Conscience on 30 September, and are expected to link with the “Thousand Madleens to Gaza” convoy.
Around 100 people are on board the boats, currently off the coast of Crete, according to the FFC.
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U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 4th of September, covering the latest developments.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
An Iranian tanker was hit by U.S. forces on Saturday near Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, in the Gulf, the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.
A Chinese national was pulled alive from a tunnel in Nepal on Saturday, authorities said, 10 days after a wall of ice, rock and mud tore through a Himalayan valley, killing more than 1,300 people and leaving more than 5,600 missing.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Spanish authorities are preparing a new site in Ceuta to accommodate hundreds of migrants who remain on the streets following large-scale arrivals in July, local media reported Saturday.
At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 km (20 miles) from La Paz, Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said.
The resolution, sponsored by African countries and led by Togo, passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstentions. The United States was the only country to vote against it.
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