The Israeli Navy intercepted two activist boats attempting to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip in October 2018, diverting the vessels and detaining their passengers. This incident marked the latest confrontation in the ongoing effort by international activists to challenge the blockade.
The Israeli Navy intercepted two activist boats attempting to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip in October 2018, diverting the vessels and detaining their passengers. The incident marked the latest confrontation in the ongoing effort by international activists to challenge the blockade.
The two vessels, named “Al Awda” (The Return) and “Freedom” (Freedom for Gaza), were part of the “Freedom Flotilla” initiative. They were carrying medical supplies and other humanitarian aid, with activists on board from various countries, including doctors, journalists, and human rights advocates. Their stated aim was to deliver aid directly to Gaza and to protest what they consider an illegal blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt.
Israeli forces boarded the vessels approximately 40-50 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, in international waters. According to reports from both sides, the interception occurred without major violence. The Israeli military stated that the activists did not resist forcefully during the boarding operation.
The Israeli Navy clarified to the ships’ passengers that they are violating the legal naval blockade and that any humanitarian merchandise can be transferred to Gaza through the Ashdod port,” the Israeli military said in a statement following the interception. “The Navy forces emphasized that the naval blockade is a necessary and legal security measure.”
After the interception, the boats were rerouted to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The passengers, comprising more than two dozen individuals, were detained by Israeli authorities for questioning and were subsequently processed for deportation. The humanitarian aid aboard the vessels was reportedly offered to be transferred to Gaza via existing land crossings, subject to security checks.
Activists, however, condemned the Israeli actions, calling the interception in international waters an act of “piracy” and asserting that the blockade itself is a violation of international law. They emphasized the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the necessity of independent aid delivery.
The naval blockade of Gaza, first imposed by Israel in 2007 following Hamas’s takeover of the territory, is maintained by Israel as a security measure aimed at preventing weapons and military materials from reaching militant groups. Critics, including human rights organizations and the United Nations, argue that the blockade constitutes collective punishment of Gaza’s 2 million residents and has severely crippled the territory’s economy and infrastructure.
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