Gaza aid flotilla says it has been intercepted by Israel’s warships

A flotilla carrying aid to Gaza said Israeli forces had on Wednesday intercepted its latest bid to break an Israeli blockade of the war-battered Palestinian territory.

The Global Sumud Flotilla – around 45 vessels carrying activists and politicians including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg – left Spain last month aiming to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory, where the UN says famine has set in.

“Around 8.30pm Gaza time, several vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including the Alma, Sirius and Adara, were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli occupation forces in international waters,” the flotilla said.

“Beyond the confirmed interceptions, live streams and communications with several other vessels have been lost,” the statement added.

French politician Marie Mesmeur and Franco-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, who were also on board the vessels, had earlier reported that they were being intercepted.

The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on social media that Israeli authorities were “currently boarding” the flotilla.