"The Global Sumud Flotilla, which consists of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including the Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and the actor Susan Sarandon, was heading towards Gaza bringing humanitarian aid despite repeated warnings from Israel to turn back. The vessels were sailing in international waters north of Egypt on Wednesday afternoon and had entered what has been described as a danger zone or high risk zone."
"About 7.25 pm, roughly 20 Israeli naval ships approached the flotilla and ordered the boats to turn off their engines, activists said on social media. Live footage from the flotilla showed passengers seated in a semi-circle, wearing lifejackets as they awaited interception. The broadcast cut off shortly afterwards. Our vessels are being illegally intercepted, a message on the flotilla's Instagram page read on Wednesday evening."
"Cameras are offline and vessels have been boarded by military personnel. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all participants on board. Multiple outlets reported on Wednesday evening that at least two vessels had been boarded by Israeli forces. In one of the latest messages sent from on board Yasemin Acar, a member of the flotilla's steering committee, said Israeli ships had surrounded the Alma, one of the vessels in the convoy."
Israeli naval forces boarded the Global Sumud Flotilla approximately 75 miles off the coast of Gaza as it attempted to breach the maritime blockade and deliver humanitarian aid. The convoy comprised more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, including Greta Thunberg and Susan Sarandon. The vessels sailed in international waters north of Egypt and entered a danger or high-risk zone that Israel had warned them not to cross. Around 7:25 pm, roughly 20 Israeli naval ships ordered the boats to turn off engines and approached. Activists broadcast passengers seated in lifejackets; cameras later went offline and multiple vessels were reported boarded.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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