The organization of the Global Sumud Flotilla said on Friday (3) that will continue its initiatives against Israel “until Palestine is free”, even after the Israeli Navy intercept all 42 vessels that departed towards the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the activists stated that “we will not stop until the genocide is over; we will not stop until the Palestine is free.”
The last boat of the mission, called Marinettefrom Polish flag, was approached this morning in the Mediterranean, almost 24 hours after Israel announced the end of the operation against the flotilla. The vessel carried six crew members who added to 473 already detained, raising to 479 the total activists in the custody of the Israeli government.
Flotilha had left Barcelona in early September, bringing together about 500 participants – including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg – from over 40 countries. Other boats came together from ports of Tunisia, Italy and Greece. Throughout the trip, activists faced technical problems and denounced attacks from Israeli drones, but insisted on continuing Gaza, claiming the delivery of humanitarian aid as a justification.
All detainees were transferred to the arrest of Saharonim, in the Neguev Desert, where they should be deported, the lawyer of the Flotilha Legal team, Loubna Tuma, told the agency EFE. Similar cases in previous missions ended with the expulsion of the foreigners involved.
Even with the operation concluded, the organizers claim that the mission is not over and re -support of international governments, unions and entities. In the last two days, protests have occurred in dozens of cities around the world in support of the flotilla. In Italy, a national strike brought together thousands of people in defense of the flotilla, while in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, about 5,000 protesters criticized the arrest of the crew – including 23 Malaysian citizens.
Among the detainees, there are activists from countries such as Brazil, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Argentina, Mexico, Germany, Tunisia, Libya, France and Colombia. These left -wing governments and militant groups call for immediate release from foreigners and the end of Israel’s blockade to the Gaza Strip.
