ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Israel’s navy intercepted an activist flotilla in international waters off Cyprus on Monday, halting the latest attempt to challenge a naval blockade of Gaza and draw attention to the grim living conditions for Palestinians in the war-battered coastal territory.
More than 50 vessels departed from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, last week in what the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the final leg of their planned journey to Gaza’s shores.
The activists’ livestream showed them putting on life jackets and raising their hands as a boat carrying Israeli troops approached. When the troops boarded, the livestream abruptly ended.
Other footage showed Israeli forces on speedboats approaching and instructing the activists to move to the front of the boat. At least 31 boats were intercepted in the operation by Monday evening, according to Global Sumud Flotilla’s tracker.
The interceptions took place well outside Cypriot territorial waters that stretch 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the island’s coastline, at a location some 167 kilometers (104 miles) away, according to the national center responsible for search and rescue operations there.