Israel Detains Over 400 from Gaza Aid Flotilla; Deportations Set to Begin

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Israeli naval forces for intercepting a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, as authorities prepare to deport hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists aboard the vessels.

The Global Sumud Flotilla consisted of more than 40 vessels and started its voyage last month, with politicians and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg planning to deliver aid to Gaza, where a United Nations-backed global hunger monitor has said famine is occurring.

The Israeli navy has intercepted vessel after vessel at sea since Thursday, after warning the activists against entering waters it says fall under its blockade, with Thunberg’s boat among those stopped from going further.

“I commend the soldiers and commanders of the navy who carried out their mission on Yom Kippur in the most professional and efficient manner,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“Their important action prevented dozens of vessels from entering the war zone and repelled a campaign of delegitimisation against Israel.”

An Israeli official said more than 400 activists aboard 41 vessels were detained during the operation.

“In an operation that lasted roughly 12 hours, Israeli navy personnel foiled a large-scale incursion attempt by hundreds of individuals aboard 41 vessels that had declared their intention to breach the legal maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip,” the official said.

“All passengers are in good health. No violence has been exercised,” Greek foreign minister George Gerapetritis said, according to state broadcaster ERT.

The Greek organisers of the flotilla announced that 11 Greeks who were on the vessels were on hunger strike to protest against their “illegal detention by the Israeli authorities”.

Israel said the activists would be deported to Europe.

“Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin,” the foreign ministry said on X, posting photos of Thunberg and other activists aboard a boat.

‘Piracy’

Rights group Amnesty International criticised Israel for blocking the flotilla, saying it was an “act of intimidation intended to punish and silence critics of Israel’s genocide and its unlawful blockade on Gaza”.

Hamas, whose 7 October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the war in Gaza, condemned the interception of the flotilla as a “crime of piracy and maritime terrorism”.

With the war in Gaza dragging on, solidarity with the Palestinians has grown globally, with activists and, increasingly, governments condemning Israel for its conduct.

Spain and Italy, which both sent naval escorts to protect their citizens on board the flotilla, had urged the activists to halt before entering Israel’s declared exclusion zone off Gaza, saying they would not be allowed to pass that mark.

After a 10-day stop in Tunisia, where organisers reported two drone attacks, the flotilla resumed its journey on 15 September.

Australians detained

Six Australians in the Gaza aid flotilla have also been detained by the Israeli military after their vessels were intercepted about 70km from the enclave’s coastline, flotilla organisers say.

Australians Surya McEwen, Abubakir Rafiq, Hamish Paterson, Juliet Lamont, Bianca Webb-Pullman and Dan Coward have been detained in international waters and remain in Israeli custody.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it was liaising with Israeli authorities and was on standby to assist the detainees.

“Australia calls on all parties to respect international law, to ensure the safety and humane treatment of those involved,” a spokesperson said.

“We understand that people want to help deliver aid to those suffering in Gaza — we also want to see critical aid delivered.

“We repeat our call on Israel to enable the sustained, unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

DFAT said it had previously issued warnings to Australians not to try to breach the naval blockade because of the safety risks.