Tel Aviv (Web Desk)
The Israeli military has decided to deport more than 450 activists detained from the Global Samood Flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Among the flotilla passengers were former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, and Nkosi Zwelivelile, the grandson of Nelson Mandela.
According to flotilla organizers, Israeli naval forces seized 42 boats in the convoy and arrested over 450 individuals onboard. The Israeli navy also reportedly jammed the flotilla’s communication systems and live video broadcasts. In a recent operation, the Israeli military also captured the flotilla’s flagship vessel, the ‘Alkatala.’
Reports indicate that the seized boats have been taken to the Ashdod port, from where the detained activists will be deported to Europe. The flotilla organizers noted that one vessel, ‘Merrinet,’ is still en route to its destination. Arab journalist Hassan Masood, part of the flotilla, claimed on social media that another ship, ‘Makino,’ entered Gaza’s maritime boundaries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military’s raid, praising the navy’s actions. Meanwhile, protests against the assault on the Samood Flotilla continue globally, with thousands taking to the streets in the UK, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Colombia, and Yemen. Demonstrators in several cities blocked traffic and caused property damage.
The flotilla had set off from Spain on August 31, with boats from various countries joining en route. The Israeli navy targeted the convoy approximately 70 nautical miles from Palestinian waters.
