Israeli forces intercept new flotilla, arrest nine Italians

 PADUA -- Israeli forces intercepted several vessels from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) in international waters Wednesday, including The Conscience, a large boat carrying 93 journalists, doctors, and activists, along with three smaller boats, an FFC spokesperson said.  

 Over 40 Italians were aboard the new flotilla and nine Italians remain in Israeli detention. The FCC claims that aid onboard included over dlrs 110,000 worth of medication, respiratory equipment and nutritional supplies destined for Gaza. This incident follows the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla on Oct- 1, in which over 450 activists were detained in another aid convoy destined for Gaza. Once again, this raises the question of legal jurisdiction in international waters, as the FFC continues to assert that “the Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters”.

 The Israeli Foreign Ministry has maintained that the flotilla's vessels and passengers have been safely transported to an Israeli port and are expected to be deported promptly as the state continues to denounce the flotilla operations as a “provocation” and enforce what it deems a “legal naval blockade” in line with operations against Hamas. However, reports have continued to surface amongst returning flotilla activists of mistreatment in Israeli detention. In a recent interview with CNN, Italian activist, Lorenzo D’Agostino, claimed that a number of flotilla participants suffered humiliation amounting to “gratuitous cruelty” whilst in detention. Israel has strongly denied such allegations.

 This comes at a time of intense scrutiny for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, recently accused by the ICC of  “complicity in genocide”, as Italy remains one of just three countries who continued to export lethal weapons to Israel from 2020-2024, despite seeking assurances that such weapons would not be used against civilians in Gaza.

 On Friday, an estimated 400,000 Italians took to the streets in a general strike for Palestine. However, as attention remains focused on the flotilla’s interception and European governments scramble to secure the release of detained citizens, some critics argue that such actions continue to divert attention from the urgent and complex humanitarian challenges facing Gaza.

 jp-dp