Israeli forces began detaining people aboard multiple vessels from a flotilla attempting to sail toward Gaza with humanitarian aid. The operation was condemned by human rights activists and experts as piracy, including claims that it occurred in international waters. Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, described the actions as another act of piracy by the Israeli army and said the global community must condemn it. Albanese said the flotilla carried basic necessities to a desperate population in Gaza and criticized European governments for not acting to stop Israel. The Global Sumud Flotilla issued a dispatch reporting military vessels intercepting the fleet and Israeli forces boarding boats in daylight, demanding safe passage for a legal, non-violent humanitarian mission.
"Israeli forces began detaining those aboard several of the more than 50 vessels headed toward the territory on Monday. The raid on a peaceful flotilla of international vessels attempting to bring humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip was described Monday as an act of brazen piracy and condemned by human rights activists and experts who say the world should no longer stand by in the face of such criminality."
"Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, called the operations by Israel "yet another act of piracy by the Israeli army in international waters" that must be condemned by the global community. Noting that the flotilla is "carrying basic necessities to a desperate population in Gaza," Albanese said: "Shame on European governments who are not acting to stop Israel! When will Israel's impunity end?""
"A dispatch was issued by the Global Sumud Flotilla - which has repeatedly tried to break the siege of Gaza - shortly after 10:30 am local time, which said that their vessels off the coast of Cyprus were "RED ALERT!Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IOF forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight.We demand safe passage for our legal, non-violent humanitarian mission. Governments must act now to stop these illegal acts or piracy meant to...""
#gaza-humanitarian-aid #israeli-naval-interception #international-flotilla #human-rights-and-international-law #un-special-rapporteur
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