The last remaining boat in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza was intercepted on its way towards the embattled enclave on Friday, after Israel stopped its fellow vessels and detained those on board, sparking protests worldwide.
"Marinette...was intercepted at 10.29 am local time, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza," the flotilla said on Telegram.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying medicine and food, consists of dozens of boats with parliamentarians, lawyers and activists on board. Israeli troops boarded most of the vessels and detained dozens of people.
The Israeli navy began intercepting the boats on Wednesday, with the flotilla on Friday saying 42 of its vessels had been “illegally intercepted” and their passengers “unlawfully abducted”. One boat, the Marinette, was left pressing ahead with its mission to break the Israeli blockade of the war-ravaged enclave, the flotilla's tracker showed.
“The world saw what happens when civilians challenge a siege. And still − Marinette sails on,” the flotilla said on Instagram. “She knows the fate of her sisters on the water. She knows what awaits. And she refuses to turn back.”
Protesters rallied around the world on Thursday in support of the flotilla and condemning Israel's interceptions. About 15,000 people marched in Barcelona – where the vessels began their journey – and chanted slogans in support of Gaza and Palestinians.
Thousands gathered in other major cities while Italy's largest union called for a one-day general strike on Friday. Earlier Thursday, Italy said Israel had detained 40 Italians from the flotilla, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a EU meeting in Denmark again criticised their efforts. “Obviously, we will do everything we can to ensure these people can return to Italy as soon as possible," she said.
But she added: “I continue to believe that all this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people."
Turkey, Colombia and Pakistan were among countries that condemned Israel's interception of the flotilla. European nations including France and Poland, which had warned the activists against making the journey, said they were working with Israeli diplomatic authorities to ensure their citizens were transferred to land and returned home swiftly.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the country's naval forces on Thursday for intercepting the majority of the boats, as authorities said they were preparing to deport those aboard. “Their important action prevented dozens of vessels from entering the war zone and repelled a campaign of delegitimisation against Israel,” he said.
