The UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories on Thursday described Israel's interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla as “Apartheid without borders.”
“ALARM! How on earth is (it) possible that Israel is allowed to assault and seize vessels in international waters just off Greece/Europe? Besides what you can think of Apartheid Israel and its genocidal leaders, this should send shock waves across Europe,” said Francesca Albanese on the US social media platform X.
The Israeli navy intercepted vessels from the flotilla late on Wednesday as they headed towards Gaza to break a longstanding blockade on the Palestinian enclave.
The group said Israeli forces surrounded the convoy in international waters near the Greek island of Crete, jammed communications and seized 21 vessels, adding that 17 vessels managed to escape and enter Greek waters following the incident.
The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, aims to break Israel’s blockade and open a humanitarian corridor by sea.
Europe condemns interception
Criticism of the Israeli interception also mounted from across Europe, prompting accusations of violations of international law.
Greece's former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis sharply criticised the Greek government, pointing to unfolding events off the coast of Greece's island of Crete.
"Just spoke to friends on the Global Sumud Flotilla. Israeli vessels & drones are harassing them off the coast of Crete," he said on X.
"The Greek government is either complicit or incapable of defending our seas from Israel," he added, while the Greek government and Israeli officials did not immediately respond to Varoufakis's comments.
Adding to the backlash, Italian lawmaker Arturo Scotto said the flotilla was intercepted about 700 miles (1,127 kilometres) from Gaza in international waters near Greece.
“History repeats itself. This time, very practically in Europe,” Scotto wrote on X, questioning whether such “violence and disregard for international law” could be tolerated.
Another war crime
In Spain, Ione Belarra, leader of the Podemos party, said the flotilla appeared to be “seized in international waters” by Israeli forces.
“This is another war crime for which they will one day have to pay,” she wrote on X, calling on the Spanish government and the European Commission to provide immediate protection.
Meanwhile, a Spanish activist aboard the flotilla, Pablo Quesada Martin, said Israeli drones were circling vessels and warned that an intervention could be imminent.
“We reaffirm that stopping a ship in international waters is a violation of international law,” he said in a video message, adding that those on board were seeking support from Greek authorities.
“They are committing genocide in Palestine, carrying out ethnic cleansing, and no one is doing anything about it. Long live the struggle of the Palestinian people," Martin said.
The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, aims to break Israel’s blockade and open a humanitarian corridor by sea.
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza since 2007, leaving about 1.5 million Palestinians out of roughly 2.4 million homeless after their homes were destroyed during its genocidal war.
