Flotilla leaves Turkey for Gaza weeks after Israel intercepted previous convoy

Organizers say the latest efforts involved a regrouped fleet following Israel’s interception, joined by additional boats. Nearly 500 activists from 45 countries were taking part.

By The Associated Press

Dozens of boats carrying supposed activists and aid for Palestinians set sail from Turkey’s Mediterranean coast on Thursday in the latest attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza — just weeks after Israel intercepted a previous flotilla and detained two agitators.

More than 50 vessels departed from the port in Marmaris in what the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the final leg of their journey to Gaza’s shores.

On April 30, Israeli forces intercepted more than 20 boats from a flotilla near the southern Greek island of Crete, initially holding about 175 agitators.

The incident drew protests and condemnation from several countries and raised questions about what any nation can legally do to enforce a blockade in international waters.

Israeli officials said they had to act early because of the high number of boats involved.

Israel took two of the activists—Spanish-Swedish citizen of Palestinian origin Saif Abukeshek and Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila—back to Israel, where they were interrogated and detained for several days.

Brazil and Spain condemned Israel for “kidnapping” their citizens. The two were deported from Israel on Sunday.

Organizers say the latest efforts involved a regrouped fleet following Israel’s interception, joined by additional boats. Nearly 500 activists from 45 countries were taking part.

They hope to draw renewed attention to the conditions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which was ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.

A fragile 6-month-old ceasefire in Gaza has halted the most intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas-led terrorists.

Around 2 million Gaza residents are still living in ruins as large amounts of aid enter through the Israeli-controlled border post.

Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a blockade on Gaza since the terror group Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.

Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms.

Last year, Israeli authorities blocked a similar attempt involving about 50 vessels and some 500 agitators, including Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers.

Israel arrested, detained, and later deported the participants.