The Israeli military has stopped the Global Sumud Flotilla from breaking its starvation blockade on the Gaza Strip and has arrested hundreds of activists who were on board the vessels, including American citizens, attempting to bring food to starving Palestinians.
According to a congressional letter to President Trump calling for the US to guarantee safe passage for the flotilla, which was led by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), 24 US citizens were among the activists onboard, including at least six US veterans.
Greg Stoker, a contributor to Mint Press News and one of the US veterans participating in the flotilla, was posting regular updates on his X account before he was presumably captured by the IDF.
“Israeli Navy trying to spray us with skunk water. Still in international waters Save Gaza,” Stoker wrote on X in his last post, which he said was written at 2:50 am Gaza time on Thursday morning.
So far, the US government has been silent about the arrest of its citizens, while some governments and international organizations are speaking out. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said the interception was a “breach of international law” if it happened in international waters.
“It’s a humanitarian mission, no threat to anybody other than to highlight and also to bring humanitarian aid into the people of Gaza, and it underlines the absolute imperative of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza as quickly as possible,” Martin said. The Irish government has said that at least 14 Irish citizens, including a senator, have been detained by Israeli forces.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the interception was “unacceptable” and said he summoned the Israeli foreign minister to Belgium. “The manner in which they were boarded and the location in international waters are unacceptable, which is why I summoned the ambassador,” he said.
Protesters in Brussels gathered outside the Belgian Foreign Ministry, calling for the protection of the seven Belgian nationals and other activists on board the flotilla boats.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that the Israeli Navy had captured 40 flotilla boats and was bringing them and the activists to Israel, from where they will be deported. The ministry had earlier published a video of Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was making her second attempt this year to break the blockade, being detained by Israeli forces.
