“Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their manner safely and peacefully to Israel, the place their deportation procedures to Europe will start. The passengers are secure and in good well being,” the overseas ministry mentioned on X, posting images of Thunberg and different activists aboard a ship.
Flotilla spokesman Saif Abukeshek mentioned the vessels that had not been intercepted had been decided to proceed.
“They’re decided. They’re motivated, and they’re doing every thing inside their fingers to have the ability to break the siege by this early morning,” he mentioned.
In a press release, the flotilla organisers branded the interceptions as “unlawful” since they had been traversing worldwide waters.
“Past the confirmed interceptions, reside streams and communications with a number of different vessels have been misplaced,” the assertion added.
“PIRACY”
Israel’s overseas ministry mentioned the intercepted activists had been being transferred to an Israeli port.
It posted footage of the 22-year-old Thunberg retrieving her belongings, including: “Greta and her pals are secure and wholesome.”
Hamas, whose Oct 7, 2023, assault on Israel sparked the conflict in Gaza, condemned the interception of the flotilla as a “crime of piracy and maritime terrorism”.
With the conflict in Gaza dragging on, solidarity with the Palestinians has grown globally, with activists and more and more governments criticising Israel for its actions.
Spain and Italy, which each despatched naval escorts to guard their residents on board the flotilla, had urged the activists to halt earlier than getting into Israel’s declared exclusion zone off Gaza, saying they might not be allowed to cross that mark.
After a 10-day cease in Tunisia, the place organisers reported two drone assaults, the flotilla resumed its journey on Sep 15.
Considered one of its fundamental ships, the Alma, was “aggressively circled by an Israeli warship”, the group mentioned, earlier than one other vessel, the Sirius, was subjected to “related harassing manoeuvres”.
