Protests Sparked as Israel Hijacks Global Sumud Flotilla
Featured image: Hundreds protested in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens, Greece. Source: Middle East Eye
The State of Israel has hijacked the Global Sumud Flotilla, detaining hundreds of activists on Tuesday 19th of May. The Flotilla departed from the Turkish city of Marmaris last Thursday with 54 vessels, carrying activists from around 70 countries. The convoy includes doctors, journalists, lawyers, etc. Ariadne Telles, lawyer of the Brazilian Association of the Lawyers of the People (ABRAPO) is among the kidnapped activists, as A Nova Democracia (AND) has reported.
The Israeli naval forces started the operations on Monday, when elite forces launched operations against the flotilla off the coast of Cyprus. The Flotilla demanded safe passage but the Israeli forces boarded some vessels, as four Israeli warships approached the flotilla.
According to information recently released, the Israeli forces have seized all the ships and kidnapped all the activists. Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said Israeli media described the operation as one of the largest naval interception campaigns targeting a Gaza-bound flotilla in recent years. At least 87 of the prisoners have started a hunger strike.
Yankee imperialism has also attacked the Flotilla: the US government decided to sanction four of the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla on Tuesday, under accusations of “supporting Hamas”.
The previous hijacking took place on April 29, when Israeli forces seized 21 flotilla vessels off Crete carrying approximately 175 activists from 39 countries, among them Thiago Ávila and Saif Abu Keshek, recently released.
This criminal action by the State of Israel has sparked protests in many countries of the world.
Rallies have taken place in Gaza City, in support of the activists.
A mass protest took place in Diyarbakır, Turkey, against the interception of the Flotilla.
Partizan participated in a protest in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens, Greece.
Other protests took place in the country, such as in Patras.
As well as in Thessaloniki.
In Herakleion, a call for a demonstration have been made.
A massive demonstration was organized in Barcelona, Spanish State.
A general strike has been called in Italy.
Anti Imperialist Action from Ireland expressed solidarity with the Irish activists kidnapped by the State of Israel.
