A humanitarian aid flotilla found itself intercepted by Israeli forces this October
On Oct. 7, 2023, the newest era of aggression by the Israeli military befell Gaza after an infamous attack by Hamas targeting civilians at an Israeli music festival. Two years later, the situation has grown to one of the biggest humanitarian crises in decades, harming the Palestinian people who reside in Gaza. In response, citizens from around the world set sail to Gaza this August as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Participants looked to deliver food, water, and medicine to those in the Gaza Strip, departing from Barcelona, Spain on Aug. 31. Members of the Global Sumud Flotilla included Swedish climate and social justice activist Greta Thunberg. In an Instagram video, Thunberg said, “Palestinians are being systematically deprived of their very basic rights and means to survive, such as producing their own food, controlling their own territorial waters,” due to the Israeli military’s illegal siege of Palestine. In response, citizens around the world decided to get involved by delivering aid to Palestinians on water. This is not the first Flotilla that has attempted to deliver aid to Palestine, the first being the Free Gaza Movement in 2008 which was intercepted by Israel, with the first attempts being turned away and the later attempts being towed away. The Free Gaza Movement and the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief(IHH) attempted again in 2010, but were again intercepted and had a violent altercation with the Israeli military.
Ships part of the Global Sumud Flotilla were intercepted by Israeli naval forces on Oct.1, putting Israel in potential violation of international law. According to UN Maritime Law, water only 22 kilometers off a state’s coast is considered their waters, but may also have control over 45 kilometers of distance to survey boats approaching its waters. Vessels outside of these waters should be untouchable by the state, however according to AP News, the interception of the Flotillas’ ships occurred at 130 kilometers away from the shore, breaching international maritime law. This is not the only international law that was broken, as participating civilians were abducted by Israeli naval forces. According to CNN, Israel used drones and did not deny that they attacked the ships before intercepting them and taking the participants as prisoners. Since the Global Sumud Flotilla was a distinctly humanitarian mission and the participants on board were nonviolent, their intercession and subsequent abduction is in violation of the UN policy on humanitarian law.
Despite being in international waters, Israeli naval officers spoke to the flotilla ships saying, “You are entering an active war zone. If you continue and attempt to break the naval blockade, we will stop your vessel.” They also had threatened to abduct members of the flotilla should they not comply with their demands. Among these participants who were abducted was Thunberg. After being released only a few days later, she stated in her Instagram video “we are not many who are safe and released from imprisonment and absurd mistreatment.” In a statement provided to The Guardian by the Swedish embassy in [nation] Thunberg “received insufficient amounts of both water and food. She also stated that she had developed rashes, which she suspects were caused by bedbugs.”
Despite Thunberg and the flotilla participants being released, there are still many Palestinians still being held prisoner in these inhumane conditions. The UN Commission has confirmed that this is a genocide, yet there is a lack of willingness from powerful nations to stop this genocide. What states have done is recognize Palestine as a state, with over 150 nations participating. Still Palestine lacks sovereignty. Millions are living in camps under an illegal siege and apartheid state. Palestinians continue to be systematically starved and bombed.
Despite there being a ceasefire deal and major hostage exchange, Israel continues its military involvement in Gaza. Still, there is little aid getting in as a UN spokesperson said, “Israeli authorities notified the United Nations that the amount of trucks expected to be allowed in will be reduced or delayed due to the limited number of deceased hostages so far released by Hamas.” With this new ceasefire deal and the flotilla bringing awareness to the lack of food and water getting into Palestine, the issues Palestinians are facing have been put to the front of the global stage.