Israel Hijacks Global Sumud Flotilla and Detains its Activists
Featured image: Map showing the trajectory of the ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Source: The Palestine Chronicle.
On the night of the 1st of October Israel assaulted and hijacked boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla, and detained the activists on board. One ship got within a few kilometers of the coast of Gaza before contact with the ship was lost. Thousands took to the streets across the world to protest the Israeli attack.
According to reports the ships were boarded about 130 km off the coast of Gaza, where communications were cut. More than 443 volunteers from 47 countries have been detained in international waters:
The Israeli assaults on the ships have been documented:
According to Israeli human rights group Adalah, “There are serious concerns that activists may be treated more harshly than in previous flotilla missions,”, and some lawyers stated that there is a big chance that the activists will end up in high-security prisons.
The flotilla was also physically attacked by the State of Israel: “Florida vessel has been deliberately rammed at sea. The ships Yulara, Meteque and others have been targeted with water cannons,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a post on Telegram.
Despite all these measures and military means used by the State of Israel, its defenses have been breached by one ship, the Mikeno, which made it within just a few kilometers of the coast of Gaza before contact was lost:
This marks the first time in history that a ship has managed to break through the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, overcoming a line of defense formed by at least 20 military ships and a heavy aerial surveillance.
There are reports of massive mobilizations in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla across many countries of the world:
Protests erupted in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Montevideo and other Latin American cities:
Massive mobilizations took place on Wednesday night in Tunisia, Libya and Morocco:
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the US Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, denouncing the Israeli attack and the US role in the genocide in the Gaza Strip:
Dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the US Embassy in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania to protest the Israeli attack:
Tens of thousands took to the streets in Italy in Rome, Genoa, Naples, Florence, etc. Once more the Italian unions called for a general strike for Palestine, that will take place on Friday.
Dockworkers blocked the port in Genoa and refused to work with Israeli ships:
The railways of Naples were blocked by pro-Palestine mobilizations:
Many pro-Palestine organizations in the Spanish State have issued calls for mobilizations against the Israeli attack in the coming days:
In Greece mobilizations have been called by the Communist Party of Greece (marxist-leninist) [KKE (m-l)] and other forces to protest the Israeli attack. Marches and rallies took place in many cities, such as in Athens, Patras, Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Karditsa, Xania, Heracleion, Xanthi, Volos, etc. The KKE (m-l) has also issued a statement denouncing the Israeli attack:
A march took place yesterday night in Athens:
