Israel intercepts the second aid flotilla to Gaza and Ottawa says 6 Canadians were arrested

The Israeli army intercepted nine boats Fleet Trying to break Israel Naval blockade of Gaza Flotilla forces attacked early Wednesday in the Mediterranean Sea and arrested dozens of activists on board, flotilla organizers and the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said that the 145 activists participating in the Freedom Flotilla coalition and the 1000 Madeleines to Gaza are in good health and are being transported to the beach in Israel for treatment before their deportation.

Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday that the government is aware of six Canadians being detained in Israel. She said Global Affairs Canada is in contact with Israeli authorities and is providing consular services to Canadians.

“Canada urges Israel to ensure the safety of our citizens and facilitate their speedy release,” she said in a social media post on X.

The interception came after nearly 450 activists from a former high-profile fleet were intercepted – Including European lawmakers and climate activist Greta Thunberg She was intercepted on board more than 40 boats last week while trying to reach Gaza with a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid. Among those detained were two Canadians Ottawa confirmed it was from that former fleet.

While most of the Global Resilience Flotilla activists have been deported, six of them — from Norway, Morocco and Spain — remain detained in Israel, lawyers representing them said late Tuesday.

The organizers of this latest flotilla denounced the new arrests on Wednesday, describing them as “arbitrary and illegal.”

Activists on board the group of nine ships included doctors, at least one member of the European Parliament and several national lawmakers from Türkiye, Denmark, France and Belgium.

The passenger list published on the fleet’s website shows that two Israeli citizens were on board their largest boat, “Conscience.” The convoy was carrying some food and medical aid heading to Gaza hospitals.

“Another futile attempt to break the lawful naval blockade and enter the combat zone ended in nothing,” the State Department wrote on X.

Organizers said the flotilla was intercepted about 120 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Cameras on board the ships, a large passenger ship and eight smaller sailing boats broadcast the interceptions live.

The boats could be seen approaching the fast ships and then boarded by Israeli forces, who then cut off the broadcast. Activists also said that an Israeli helicopter flew over them. No injuries were reported.

Türkiye strongly condemned the recent Israeli interception in international waters, calling it an “act of piracy.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that this was a serious violation of international law and accused Israel of escalating tensions and undermining peace efforts.

The statement said that Türkiye has launched diplomatic efforts to ensure the immediate release and safe return of its citizens, and is coordinating with other countries regarding the situation of other activists.

Last week’s Global Resilience Fleet interceptions drew widespread condemnation and sparked major protests in several major cities and a one-day strike across Italy.

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Some of the deported activists described mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards, which Israel denies.

Late Tuesday, dozens of parliamentarians from Turkey and European countries – including Cyprus, Belgium, Spain and Italy – issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s interception of the Global Resilience Flotilla and demanding the immediate release of the remaining detained activists.

The statement described the convoy as a peaceful and civil initiative, and called for respect for international law.

The flotillas heading to Gaza came amid growing criticism of Israel’s behavior in Gaza, where its offensive in the war against Hamas has destroyed large swaths of territory and killed tens of thousands of people.

Also Wednesday, Israel and Hamas resumed indirect negotiations in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, alongside high-level leaders from international delegations, including the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.

The war was sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The militants killed about 1,200 people that day, while 251 others were kidnapped. Forty-eight hostages are still being held in Gaza, and about 20 of them are believed to be alive.

The ensuing Israeli campaign led to the deaths of more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which does not differentiate between civilians and militants in the death toll. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and whose figures experts consider the most reliable estimates, said women and children made up about half of the dead.

Israel has maintained varying degrees of blockade on the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized power in the coastal enclave in 2007, saying it was necessary to contain the militant group. Critics deride the policy as collective punishment.

After the start of the war, Israel tightened the siege but later eased it under American pressure. In March, it closed the Strip to all food, medicine and other goods for two and a half months, contributing to Gaza’s slide into famine.

Flotilla activists say they want to break the Israeli blockade and establish a humanitarian corridor by sea, given the lack of aid reaching Gaza by land. They vowed to try again.

Brito reported from Barcelona, ​​Spain. Associated Press writer Susan Fraser in Ankara, Türkiye, contributed to this report.

– Additional files from global news

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