The nine boats of the Freedom Flotilla – Thousand Madleens, which were sailing to Gaza with the aim of breaking Israel’s blockade, were intercepted this Wednesday (8) in international waters by the country’s Navy, and their approximately 140 participants were detained, confirmed the Towards Gaza campaign.
“At 7:45 am GMT, the rest of the Thousand Madleens sailboats and the Conscience boat were also approached in international waters, at an approximate distance of 110 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza,” the organization detailed about the approach.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially intercepted three of the sailboats around 120 nautical miles (220 kilometers) from Gaza and concluded with the interception of all the boats that made up this second flotilla, which left at the end of September from Italy in parallel to the Global Sumud flotilla, approached last week.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the interception operation and said all passengers “are safe and in good health.”
“The passengers are expected to be deported immediately,” Israel announced in a brief statement.
The flotilla reported the detention of an “unarmed” crew, including doctors, journalists and elected representatives, including the Mais Madri deputy in the Madrid Assembly, Jimena González.
The organizations also said they lost “vital aid” the vessels were carrying, “worth more than $110,000 worth of medicines, respiratory equipment and nutritional supplies” destined for “Gaza’s starving hospitals.”
As happened with the Sumud flotilla, the activists are being taken to an Israeli port for subsequent deportation. Of the more than 450 participants in the previous flotilla, Sumud, six members remained detained until this Tuesday in the Israeli prison of Ketziot.
