On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the country’s naval forces for intercepting the aid flotilla that was heading towards Gaza. Netanyahu commended the soldiers and commanders of the navy for their professional and efficient execution of the mission, undertaken during Yom Kippur. He emphasized that their actions prevented a multitude of vessels from entering the conflict zone and undermined the campaign aimed at delegitimizing Israel. The Global Samud Flotilla, consisting of 45 vessels, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and other individuals, had commenced its journey last month, intending to reach Gaza. Since Wednesday, the Israeli Navy had been intercepting each vessel and cautioning activists, including Thunberg, against entering the controlled waters. Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that none of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts succeeded in entering the active combat zone or breaching the established naval blockade. The ministry added that the last remaining vessel would also be stopped from entering the area. According to Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, 39 out of the 45 ships had been intercepted and were directed toward the Israeli port city of Ashdod. Gerapetritis reported that all passengers were in good health and that no violence had occurred. The Greek organizers of the flotilla said that 11 Greek citizens on one of the vessels had begun a hunger strike, protesting their ‘illegal detention’ by Israeli authorities. Israel stated that the activists would be deported to Europe but did not specify the exact country of destination. The Israeli Foreign Minister wrote on ‘X’, sharing pictures of Greta Thunberg and other activists, that the ‘Hamas-Sumud passengers’ were safely en route to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe would begin. Earlier, Israeli forces had intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza, and several activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, were detained. The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a video demonstrating an Israeli soldier returning Thunberg’s belongings, and said that Greta and her friends were safe and healthy. The ministry also confirmed that several vessels had been diverted to Israeli ports. Out of 47 ships, Israeli troops raided only six and detained over 150 activists on board from 37 different countries.
