Gaza aid flotilla organisers say 41 boats intercepted, 10 still sailing

"Foreign ministers of 10 countries say Israel's storming of the aid flotilla is a blatant violation of international law. The organisers of an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip say Israeli forces raided 41 of their boats in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, while 10 vessels continue to sail towards the besieged Palestinian enclave. The vessels still sailing were about 121 nautical miles (224km) from Gaza, the Global Sumud Flotilla said on Tuesday morning."

"The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Spain, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, Libya, and the Maldives released a joint statement, describing Israeli forces' actions as blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law. As per the statement, the ministers expressed serious concern regarding the safety and security of the civilian participants of the flotilla and called for the immediate release of all detained activists, as well as for full respect for their rights and dignity."

"More than 50 vessels sailed from the Turkish port city of Marmaris last week, in what organisers described as the final stage of a journey aimed at challenging Israel's blockade of Gaza. Israeli forces began storming the boats in international waters off the coast of Cyprus on Monday, organisers said, and abducted activists. Several countries have condemned the Israeli attacks on the aid flotilla."

"Reporting from the Palestinian enclave, Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum said Israeli media described the operation as one of the largest naval interception campaigns targeting a Gaza-bound flotilla in recent years. Shortly before Israeli forces began intercepting boats on Monday, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the flotilla to abandon its mission. Change course and turn back immediately, the ministry said in a statement."

Foreign ministers from Turkiye, Spain, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, Libya, and the Maldives condemned Israeli storming of an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip as violations of international law and international humanitarian law. Organisers reported that Israeli forces raided 41 boats in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, while 10 vessels continued sailing toward Gaza. The remaining vessels were about 121 nautical miles from Gaza. Organisers said Israeli forces began storming boats in international waters off Cyprus on Monday and abducted activists. The ministers expressed concern for civilian participants’ safety and security, called for the immediate release of detained activists, and demanded full respect for their rights and dignity. Israel’s foreign ministry had directed the flotilla to abandon its mission and turn back immediately.

Read at www.aljazeera.com