Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has joined ten other countries in strongly condemning Israel&rsquo;s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, calling the operation a violation of international law and demanding the immediate release of detained activists. In a joint statement issued early Friday, the foreign ministers of T&uuml;rkiye, Brazil, Jordan, Pakistan, Spain, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Colombia, Maldives, South Africa, and Libya denounced Israeli &ldquo;assaults&rdquo; on the Gaza-bound aid convoy. The flotilla, carrying humanitarian supplies and international activists, was attempting to challenge Israel&rsquo;s blockade on Gaza when it was intercepted in international waters earlier this week, according to organizers. The incident has intensified international criticism of Israel&rsquo;s military operations in Gaza and restrictions on humanitarian access to the enclave. The joint statement described the flotilla as &ldquo;a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.&rdquo; It said Israel&rsquo;s actions against the vessels and the detention of activists &ldquo;constitute flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law.&rdquo; The ministers also voiced concern over the safety of those detained, urging Israeli authorities to ensure their &ldquo;immediate release.&rdquo; &ldquo;The Ministers are deeply concerned about the safety of the civilian activists,&rdquo; the statement said, calling on the wider international community to uphold international law, protect civilians and ensure accountability. Separately, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also condemned the &quot;illegal interception&quot; and the &quot;unlawful detention of activists onboard&quot; the flotilla, terming it a &quot;flagrant violation of international law and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid.&quot; &quot;International community must step in to end repeated violations of international law by Israel, lift the blockade of Gaza, and ensure immediate release of all humanitarian workers and activists onboard the flotilla,&quot; FM Dar said. The diplomatic intervention follows growing alarm over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where aid access remains severely restricted amid the ongoing war. The flotilla mission had sought to deliver humanitarian supplies and draw attention to conditions inside the besieged Palestinian territory. Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel and has consistently supported Palestinian statehood, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian access to civilians affected by the conflict.

Middle East

The incident has intensified international criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and restrictions on humanitarian access to the enclave; joint statement describes flotilla as “a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”





Pakistan joins 10 nations condemning Israel’s Global Sumud flotilla raid

Ibrahim Babakhel

ISLAMABAD: The family and associates of former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan have no information about his condition or whereabouts, his aide said Thursday, after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters, raising fears over whether he is alive, in custody, or among activists reportedly thrown into the sea during the &ldquo;illegal raid.&rdquo;&nbsp;Khan was among 211 activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a 58-vessel humanitarian convoy attempting to challenge Israel&rsquo;s blockade on Gaza, according to organizers.&nbsp;The flotilla says it was intercepted by Israeli naval forces near the Greek island of Crete early Thursday.&nbsp;The incident comes as Israel&rsquo;s war on Gaza continues to draw international scrutiny over the humanitarian toll and restrictions on aid entering the besieged enclave.&nbsp;Activist flotillas have increasingly emerged as symbolic attempts to challenge the blockade and deliver relief supplies directly to Gaza.&nbsp;&ldquo;The flotilla was peacefully sailing in international waters when multiple vessels&rsquo; radio communications were suddenly jammed,&rdquo; the flotilla&rsquo;s ground team said in a statement, describing the boarding as an &ldquo;illegal raid.&rdquo;&nbsp;Organizers said at least 22 vessels were stormed by Israeli forces.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as &lsquo;Israel,&rsquo; pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Khan&rsquo;s spokesperson, Daniyal Abdullah, said communication with the former senator was lost during the operation.&nbsp;&ldquo;As of now, we are not sure about the whereabouts of the former senator,&rdquo; Abdullah told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;He said flotilla organizers confirmed that Khan was aboard the vessel Marea, which was intercepted by Israeli forces, but no further information was available.&nbsp;&ldquo;Before the navy boarded the ships, there were multiple drone attacks. That was the last time I heard from him,&rdquo; Abdullah said.&nbsp;Abdullah added that organizers had informed him some activists were allegedly forced overboard during the raid.&nbsp;&ldquo;I have no information whether the former senator was also thrown into the water or not,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The flotilla also alleged that one of its vessels was set on fire during the interception.&nbsp;Khan had previously joined a similar Gaza flotilla last year and was detained by Israeli authorities before being deported.&nbsp;Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has repeatedly called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.&nbsp;According to human rights groups, despite the 2025 ceasefire, Israel has committed over 2,400 documented violations, resulting in 766 fatalities and 2,147 injuries in just five months.

Former Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan is among 211 activists detained after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters near Crete.

Pakistan ex-senator’s whereabouts unknown after Israeli flotilla ‘raid,’ aide says

JERUSALEM:&nbsp;<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">Gaza flotilla organizers say 211 activists &#39;kidnapped&#39; by Israel&nbsp;reported on Thursday.&nbsp; Earlier, Israel&#39;s foreign ministry said on Thursday, that Israeli forces had arrested about 175 activists aboard 20 ships from an aid-laden flotilla bound for Gaza. &quot;Approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats are now making their way peacefully to Israel,&quot; the ministry said in a statement, including a video of the activists aboard an Israeli navy ship.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"> </div>Meanwhile, Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur, in her reaction posted on X, that the reported action amounted to an alarming extension of Israeli enforcement beyond its recognized jurisdiction.&nbsp;</div> In her post, she described the episode as evidence of what she characterized as &ldquo;apartheid without borders,&rdquo; warning that such incidents should &ldquo;send shock waves across Europe.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2049729807038996657&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=16b0b7e09c183bfef549ae29ecdbc84b983d7faf&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 538px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Israel controls all entry points to Gaza, and has been accused by the United Nations and foreign NGOs of strangling the flow of goods into the territory, causing shortages since the start of the war in Oct. 2023. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye released a statement on X, that Israel has violated humanitarian principles and international law by targeting the Global Sumud Flotilla who was purposed to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the innocent people of Gaza.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2049717794925617591&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=90b40ae75d27f633c09d9b376c6760e6d4d01f57&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 777px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>

175 activists aboard 20 ships from an aid-laden flotilla bound for Gaza (File Photo: BSS)

Israeli forces reportedly intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and detained about 175 activists from more than 20 ships, as Israel maintains a blockade that has drawn criticism over restricted humanitarian access to Gaza.

Gaza flotilla organizers say 211 activists 'kidnapped' by Israel

ATHENS: The organizers of a flotilla carrying pro-Palestinian activists aiming to break through an Israeli blockade in Gaza said Thursday their boats were surrounded by Israeli &quot;military boats.&quot; The flotilla, made up of more than 50 boats, set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain, and Syracuse in Italy. In a post to X overnight, the Global Sumud Flotilla said that Israeli military boats had &quot;illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and threatened kidnapping and violence&quot;. &quot;Communications with 11 vessels have been lost,&quot; the organization added. The flotilla is currently off the coast of Greece, near Crete, according to the organisation&#39;s live tracking on its website. &quot;Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as &#39;Israel&#39;, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees,&quot; the organisation added. &quot;Boat communications are being jammed, and a SOS was issued.&quot; In late 2025, an initial flotilla of about 50 boats, composed of political figures and activists such as Sweden&#39;s Greta Thunberg, was boarded by the Israeli navy &mdash; illegally, according to the organisers and Amnesty International. The crew members were arrested and expelled by Israel. The Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement accuse each other of violating a ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, 2025, after two years of war.

The organizers of a flotilla carrying pro-Palestinian activists aiming to break through an Israeli blockade in Gaza said Thursday their boats were surrounded by Israeli "military boats".

Gaza flotilla organizers say surrounded by Israeli 'military boats'

MARSEILLE: Some 20 French boats set sail from Marseille on Saturday to join up with an international flotilla making a renewed effort to break an Israeli blockade and deliver aid to Gaza, AFP reporters saw. &quot;Gaza, Marseille is with you&quot; shouted around a thousand people who had come to the docks to support the initiative. The ships, mostly sailboats, set off to a round of applause and songs shortly after 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) to join the &quot;Global Sumud Flotilla&quot;, named after a Gazan fisherman. The international flotilla of some 100 boats, mostly setting sail from Barcelona on April 12, will head towards Gaza around April 20, according to the organisers. A week-long stopover is planned in southern Italy for &quot;non-violence training.&quot; &quot;The goal is to give Palestine more visibility. We&#39;re not talking about it much right now, because of the international context,&quot; said Manon, a crew member who declined to give her full name. In late 2025, an initial flotilla of about 50 boats, composed of political figures and activists such as Sweden&#39;s Greta Thunberg, was boarded by the Israeli navy -- illegally according to the organisers and Amnesty International. The crew members were arrested and expelled by Israel. The Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement accuse each other of violating a ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, 2025, after two years of war.

Europe

Some 20 French boats set sail from Marseille to join up with an international flotilla making a renewed effort to break an Israeli blockade and deliver aid to Gaza, AFP reporters saw.

French boats set sail to join Gaza aid flotilla

MADRID: Israel has released the five remaining Spanish detainees from flotillas it blocked while they were carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists to devastated Gaza, sources at Spain&#39;s foreign ministry said on Sunday. Israel has this month intercepted in international waters two flotillas aiming to break its blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations has declared a famine after two years of brutal conflict. Israel arrested the crews, with Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg among the dozens of activists of various nationalities, sparking huge protests in Europe. Israel has been releasing them over recent days, with Spanish foreign ministry sources saying: &quot;The last five members of the flotilla held by Israel are now on their way to Spain.&quot; Among them is a member of the first flotilla who was not included in a first wave of releases after allegedly biting an Israeli prison officer. &quot;There are no more Spaniards from the flotilla detained in Israel,&quot; the ministry sources added. Almost 50 other Spanish flotilla members had returned home during the past week. The activists have complained of mistreatment during their detention in Israel. Israeli authorities have denied the allegations.

Pro-Palestinian supporters wave flags as they wait for the arrival of South African activists at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park

Israel released the last five detained Spanish flotilla members aiming to break Gaza’s blockade, ending Spain’s detentions amid protests and claims of mistreatment.

Spain says Israel frees its last Gaza flotilla members

ANKARA: Turkish officials on Wednesday called for release of three lawmakers detained after Israeli forces intercepted their boats heading for Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said all nine of its boats were intercepted by the Israeli army as they attempted to approach Gaza to challenge a naval blockade. T&uuml;rkiye&#39;s foreign ministry slammed the interception as an &quot;act of piracy&quot;, describing it as &quot;an attack on civil activists, including Turkish citizens and members of parliament&quot;. &quot;This is a serious violation of international law. Our three MPs and all activists illegally detained must be released immediately and unconditionally,&quot; Sena Nur Celik Kanat, a lawmaker from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s ruling AKP party, told AFP. Celik Kanat was among more than 80 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe who signed a letter calling for the activists&#39; release. The pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the boats were carrying &quot;vital aid worth over $110,000 USD in medicines, respiratory equipment, and nutritional supplies that were destined for Gaza&#39;s starving hospitals&quot;. Israel has in recent months blocked several international aid flotillas from reaching Gaza, where the UN says famine has set in after two years of devastating conflict.

Türkiye condemned Israel’s interception of aid flotillas bound for Gaza as “piracy” and demanded the release of three detained Turkish lawmakers and other activists carrying $110,000 worth of medical and nutritional supplies for Gaza’s hospitals

Türkiye urges Israel to release detained lawmakers

Syed Muhammad Zaid

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmad, who was recently detained by Israeli forces while participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, will return to Pakistan on October 9, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said. Dar confirmed the release of Mushtaq, expressing his admiration for the senator&rsquo;s courage, and said he was in &ldquo;high spirits&rdquo; after enduring severe treatment during his captivity. He praised Mushtaq&rsquo;s determination and steadfast support for Palestinian humanitarian efforts through the Sumud Flotilla. The foreign minister revealed that Mushtaq, who had been held in Israeli custody, was currently with the Pakistan Embassy in Amman, Jordan, and would return to Pakistan on October 9. &quot;Senator Mushtaq is fine and in high spirits,&quot; Dar said in a statement posted on social media platform X.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1975601673876762825&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8712a1c1ac00454a2bed83e5c2d7c98382c90e6c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Mushtaq had been among hundreds of activists detained when Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a mission designed to deliver aid to Gaza amidst its ongoing humanitarian crisis. The flotilla, which included notable figures such as climate activist Greta Thunberg, was targeted by Israeli forces on the high seas. According to Reuters, Israel expelled 171 activists on Monday, bringing the total number of deported individuals to 341. In a personal account posted on social media, Mushtaq described the harrowing conditions he and other detainees endured. &ldquo;Our hands were handcuffed behind our backs, our feet shackled and chained,&rdquo; he said, recalling the brutal treatment. &ldquo;Our eyes were blindfolded as dogs were set upon us and guns aimed at our bodies. We were subjected to severe and relentless torture.&rdquo; The former senator further revealed that the detained activists launched a hunger strike to protest their treatment and demand better conditions. &quot;In protest, we launched a three-day hunger strike to press for our demands,&rdquo; Mushtaq added. Despite the mistreatment, Mushtaq and other activists stood firm in their cause. He expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Foreign Office for coordinating through a friendly European country&#39;s mission in Tel Aviv, &nbsp;given that Islamabad does not recognize Israel, and appreciated the embassy in Amman for ensuring his safety and support during his stay. Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg, also detained during the flotilla&rsquo;s interception, arrived in Athens on Monday, expressing solidarity with those still imprisoned. In a video posted on Instagram, she emphasized that while some detainees had been released, others remain in custody, stressing the need for their immediate freedom. As Mushtaq prepares to return to Pakistan, his experience serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who stand in solidarity with Palestine, despite the risks and hardships they face.

Foreign Affairs

Former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad was detained by Israeli forces while aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission attempting to break the Gaza blockade and deliver aid in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Former Pakistani senator to return on Oct. 9 after Israeli detention

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Pakistanis detained by Israeli forces from the Global Samood flotilla, including former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, will be repatriated &ldquo;very soon.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Sharif held a telephone conversation with Pakistan religio-political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman to discuss the situation in the Middle East, the ceasefire efforts in Palestine, and developments in Kashmir.&nbsp;Sharif reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s longstanding position on the Palestinian cause, emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to &ldquo;the ongoing massacre of Palestinians.&rdquo; He stressed that Pakistan has consistently defended the rights of &ldquo;its Palestinian brothers and sisters&rdquo; at every international forum and would continue to do so.&nbsp;The prime minister reaffirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He noted that eight Islamic countries were actively working toward securing a ceasefire, expressing optimism that these efforts would soon bear fruit.&nbsp;On the detention of activists, Sharif said the government was in close contact with friendly countries and international organizations to ensure the safe return of Pakistani citizens. Israel does not have diplomatic relations with Pakistan.&nbsp;Israeli naval forces intercepted the 45-vessel flotilla last week, detaining more than 450 activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The ships, which had departed Spain in late August, were carrying humanitarian aid in a bid to challenge Israel&rsquo;s blockade of Gaza. Detainees were taken to Ashdod port for deportation proceedings, prompting condemnation from Amnesty International and protests in several countries.&nbsp;Turkey, Spain, Colombia, and South Africa have joined Pakistan in demanding the activists&rsquo; immediate release.&nbsp;Sharif and Rehman also discussed the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, with the prime minister reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to supporting peace and the rights of Kashmiris.

Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif vowed swift repatriation of citizens detained in Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, reaffirmed support for Palestine and Kashmir, and stressed Islamabad’s commitment to a ceasefire and Palestinian statehood during talks with JI chief.

Pakistanis held in Gaza flotilla to return soon: PM Sharif

Reuters

TEL AVIV: The Israeli military intercepted the last boat in an aid flotilla attempting to reach blockaded Gaza on Friday, a day after stopping most of the vessels and detaining some 450 activists including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg. The organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said the Marinette was intercepted some 42.5 nautical miles (79 km) from Gaza. Israeli army radio said the navy had taken control of the last ship in the flotilla, detained those aboard and that the vessel was being led to Ashdod port in Israel. In a statement, the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli naval forces had now &ldquo;illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels, each carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel&rsquo;s illegal siege on Gaza.&rdquo;&nbsp;A camera broadcasting from the Marinette showed someone holding up a note saying &ldquo;We see a ship! It&rsquo;s a war ship,&rdquo; before a boat is seen approaching and soldiers boarding. A voice is heard telling the people on board not to move and to put their hands in the air.An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the boat&rsquo;s status. The ministry said on Thursday the flotilla&rsquo;s one remaining vessel would be prevented from breaching the blockade if it tried to.&nbsp;The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge Israel&rsquo;s naval blockade of the enclave, almost two years into Israel&rsquo;s siege of Gaza which was sparked by militant group Hamas&rsquo; October 7 attacks.&nbsp;Israeli officials have repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt. The foreign ministry had said the flotilla was previously warned that it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a &ldquo;lawful naval blockade,&rdquo; and asked organizers to change course. It had offered to transfer aid to Gaza.&nbsp;The Israeli foreign ministry on Friday said that four Italians had been deported. &ldquo;The rest are in the process of being deported. Israel is keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible,&rdquo; it said in a statement. All the flotilla participants were &ldquo;safe and in good health,&rdquo; it added.Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets in cities across Europe as well as in Karachi, Buenos Aires and Mexico City on Thursday to protest the flotilla&rsquo;s interception.&nbsp;On Friday, tens of thousands of Italians demonstrated, as part of a day-long general strike called by unions in support of the flotilla.&nbsp;Israel has faced widespread global condemnation over the war in Gaza, and is defending itself against charges of genocide in the International Court of Justice.&nbsp;Israel says its actions have been in self-defense and has consistently denied genocide allegations. Israel&rsquo;s offensive has killed over 66,000 people, Palestinian health authorities say.&nbsp;&nbsp;Israel has accepted a new US proposal announced this week to end the war that demands Hamas surrender. US President Donald Trump, who said he would temporarily oversee governance of Gaza under the plan, has given Hamas a few days to respond, and warned Hamas that Israel would continue its siege of Gaza if the group refused.

Israeli forces intercepted the last Gaza aid flotilla boat, detaining activists including Greta Thunberg. Organizers condemned the blockade as illegal, while Israel defended it as lawful. Global protests erupted amid ongoing war, casualties, and US-backed ceasefire demands.

Articles tagged with "Gaza Flotilla"