Israel stops Gaza-bound flotilla, arrests activists

The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla heading for the Gaza Strip and arrested hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists crewing its vessels, the Israeli foreign ministry said on Thursday. Among them was Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The Global Sumud Flotilla, composed of 44 small boats from a variety of countries, was bringing humanitarian aid supplies to the combat zone, attempting to break what it called the Israeli siege of Gaza. One vessel from the flotilla on Thursday was still sailing outside the naval blockade area, but would also be intercepted if it approached, according to Israel’s foreign ministry.

Israel previously asked the flotilla to change course and offered to distribute the humanitarian aid itself. The Israeli military began boarding the boats and arresting their crews on Wednesday evening, according to the flotilla.

What is Israel doing with the arrested activists? The detained activists were in good health, according to Israel’s foreign ministry. They were being transported to Israel and would be deported to Europe from there, according to the ministry.

Deja vu. Hasn’t this happened before? The Israeli military arrested Thunberg and 11 other activists in June, when they approached the naval blockade area in a single aid-bearing ship.

Dig deeper: Read my report on Arab countries’ support for a U.S. plan for peace between Israel and Gaza.