Overview
- Israeli naval forces boarded multiple vessels north of Gaza on Wednesday and transferred passengers to the port of Ashdod, with officials saying detainees are safe and healthy.
- Those held include Greta Thunberg and Brazilian nationals such as congresswoman Luizianne Lins and activist Thiago Ávila, with Brazil’s embassy coordinating consular assistance.
- Flotilla organizers describe the mission as peaceful, allege unlawful interceptions in international waters, report hundreds detained and disrupted communications, and call for international pressure.
- Israel argues the flotilla tried to breach a lawful naval blockade and approach an active combat zone and says the detainees will be deported to Europe in the coming days.
- The interdictions prompted protests in several cities and diplomatic responses, including Colombia expelling Israel’s delegation, while European governments had urged the flotilla to halt before the exclusion zone.