Tel Aviv [Israel], May 1 (ANI): Israel on Friday reiterated its stance of continuing the naval blockade on Gaza, calling a Hamas-led flotilla a provocation.
The Israel Foreign Ministry thanked the Greek government for allowing the activists to disembark on its shores.
In a post on X, the ministry said the humanitarian activity in Gaza is managed by the Board of Peace (BoP) and called the flotilla “another provocation designed to divert attention from Hamas’s refusal to disarm” and “to serve the PR interests of professional provocateurs.” It added that Greece agreed to let the flotilla activists disembark and expressed thanks to the Greek government.
The ministry said two activists, Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization, and Thiago Avila, suspected of illegal activity, will be brought to Israel for questioning, and reiterated that Israel will not allow a breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.
According to The Times of Israel, the activists disembarked on Crete. Israeli authorities said around 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 boats; flotilla organisers put the number at 211.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said those who wish to send aid to Gaza may do so through the BoP. In a separate post he said the IDF had successfully blocked attempts to breach the blockade and that participants taken off vessels were detained.
The Israeli military said on April 30 it intercepted a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza in international waters near Greece, Israeli officials and the activist group behind the mission said.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, the protest group organising the boats, has repeatedly tried to deliver aid to Gaza and breach Israel’s naval blockade of the territory, which has been in place for decades. Previous missions have included high-profile activists such as Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg, amid severe restrictions Israel imposed on humanitarian aid into Gaza since the war there began in 2023. (ANI)
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