Israel to start deporting Gaza flotilla activists, as one boat remains en route
Israel has begun the process of deporting hundreds of activists who were on board around 40 vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla, after a day of interceptions by the Israeli navy.
At least one vessel is still heading towards Gaza, but the remaing boats carrying vital aid to the Palestinian enclave were seized by Israeli forces and re-directed to Israel's Ashdod port.
Israeli authorities began deportation proceedings for activists on board without allowing them to receive legal advice, the legal and human rights organisation Adalah said.
"These proceedings were initiated without prior notice to their lawyers and while denying participants access to legal counsel," Adalah said.
"This constitutes a grave violation of due process and a denial of the participants’ fundamental rights. Adalah will continue to seek access and will take legal action as necessary."
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The flotilla organisers had confirmed by Thursday afternoon that at least 21 ships had been intercepted by Israeli forces.
A further 19 ships had not communicated with organisers since the early hours, and were assumed to have also been intercepted.
At one point on Thursday morning, a tracker showed that the Mikeno ship had entered Palestinian territorial waters off the coast of Gaza.
But Mikeno lost communication with organisers at 08:21 UTC, and its tracker has remained stationary since. It is assumed to have been intercepted.
Each individual boat uses three methods to communicate with organisers: an Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracker, CCTV operated by a land-based support team, and radio communication.
Organisers told Middle East Eye that Mikeno's location in Gaza's waters was based on AIS, but there was no update from anyone on board.
As of 9am UTC, the Marinette vessel was still in contact with organisers and heading towards the enclave. It was one of the ships furthest away from Gaza, and will likely be intercepted once it approaches.
"Marinette is online and in great spirits," a source within the Global Sumud Flotilla told MEE. "They were behind the fleet and trying to catch up, which likely spared them."
Israel denied reports that Mikeno had entered Gaza's territorial waters, stating that no vessel had broken through its blockade of the territory.
"None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade," the foreign ministry said, falsely linking the flotilla with Hamas.
Israel's air, land and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has lasted over 17 years, is illegal under international law.
Referring to Marinette, the foreign ministry added: "One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented."
High-profile boats targeted first
On Wednesday evening, Israel’s foreign ministry released footage showing climate activist Greta Thunberg, the most high-profile activist on the flotilla, surrounded by armed soldiers.
When the interceptions began, the largest boats with the most well-known figures were targeted first, organisers told MEE. The Alma and Sirius vessels were among the first to be seized.
'Marinette is online and in great spirits'
– The Global Sumud Flotilla
Some of the boats were around 70 nautical miles from Gaza when Israeli forces moved in.
During each interception, Israeli navy vessels approached the boat and used a speaker to announce to passengers that they must "switch off the engine".
At the same time, bright lights were shone on to the vessels by Israeli forces, and passengers reported via radio communications that they were sprayed with some form of liquid.
Videos shared by passengers on Telegram showed activists holding their passports, saying they had been abducted and taken to Israel against their will. They stressed the flotilla’s mission was peaceful and humanitarian.
Based on radio communications heard by MEE, on Wednesday night, several smaller boats switched off their engines once they entered the area in which previous flotillas had been intercepted by Israel.
While Israeli forces focused on the larger vessels, these smaller boats were able to get past the "interception zone". All of them were believed to have been later intercepted.
The flotilla carried food and medicine for Gaza, as well as 500 people onboard, including parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.
Governments condemn 'dastardly attack'
The United Nations, as well as several governments, condemned the Israeli interceptions.
The UN's rights office said Israel's actions had widened its unlawful blockade of Gaza.
"As the occupying power, Israel must ensure food and medical supplies for the population to the fullest extent of the means available, or to agree to and facilitate impartial humanitarian relief schemes, delivered rapidly and without hindrance," spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told Reuters.
Spain’s labour minister and deputy prime minister, Yolanda Diaz, condemned Israel’s raid on the Gaza aid flotilla as “a crime against international law” and demanded the immediate release of those detained.
Brazil’s foreign ministry said it “deplores the Israeli government’s military action, which violates rights and endangers the physical well-being of peaceful protesters”.
It added: “The responsibility for the safety of those detained now rests with Israel.”
Those on board include 15 Brazilian nationals, including lawmaker Luizianne Lins.
Pakistan strongly condemned Israel’s interception, describing it as a “dastardly attack”.
“We hope and pray for the safety of all those who have been illegally apprehended by Israeli forces and call for their immediate release. Their crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Turkey's foreign ministry also denounced the naval raid, calling it a “terrorist” act.
Meanwhile, Belgium's foreign minister summoned the Israeli ambassador over Israel's interceptions.
"The manner in which they were boarded and the location in international waters are unacceptable, which is why I summoned the ambassador," Maxime Prevot told lawmakers in Brussels.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned Israel for the “abduction” of activists seized in international waters, demanding their “immediate release”.
Among at least six South Africans on board was Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela.
“The interception of the flotilla in international waters is contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown,” Ramaphosa said.
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