Overview

• Manned by the navy over roughly 12 hours, interceptions stopped about 41 vessels and more than 400 people were taken to Ashdod for processing ahead of expulsion to Europe, Israeli officials said.
• Organisers tracked the Marinette about 150 km from Gaza early Friday and later said it, too, was intercepted, though other reports continued to describe it as still under way.
• France said 38 nationals, including five parliamentarians, were aboard and detained, and consular staff planned visits on Friday to check on French citizens.
• Israel published documents it says tie the flotilla to Hamas financing, assertions flotilla representatives and independent observers dispute, as legal experts argue stops in international waters breach maritime law.
• The operation prompted street demonstrations across Europe and in Mexico and diplomatic steps including Belgium summoning Israel’s ambassador and Colombia announcing the expulsion of Israel’s diplomatic delegation.