Tel Aviv, May 1 — Israel reaffirmed on Friday that it will maintain the naval blockade on Gaza, calling a flotilla organized by pro-Palestinian activists a deliberate provocation.
The Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to the Greek government after activists were allowed to disembark on Crete. In a social media post, the ministry said the humanitarian deliveries to Gaza are handled by the Board of Peace (BoP) and described the flotilla as an attempt to distract from what it called Hamas’s refusal to disarm while serving the publicity goals of professional provocateurs.
Israeli officials said two people removed from the vessels will be brought to Israel for questioning: Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of ties to a terrorist organization, and Thiago Avila, suspected of illegal activity. The ministry reiterated that Israel will not permit a breach of the legally imposed naval blockade of Gaza.
According to Israeli authorities, roughly 175 activists were taken off more than 20 boats; organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla put the figure at 211. The activists disembarked on Crete after the Israeli navy intercepted the flotilla in international waters near Greece, officials and the protest group said. The military said the interception took place on April 30.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said those wishing to send aid to Gaza should do so through the Board of Peace. He added that the Israel Defense Forces successfully prevented any attempt to break the blockade and that participants removed from the vessels were detained for questioning.
The Global Sumud Flotilla has repeatedly attempted to deliver aid to Gaza and to challenge Israel’s maritime restrictions, which have been in place for decades. Past missions have drawn high-profile figures, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. Israel tightened controls on humanitarian shipments to Gaza after the outbreak of the 2023 war, citing security concerns.
This item is based on reporting from syndicated news sources.
