Israel has intercepted most vessels of a pro-Palestinian aid flotilla attempting to reach Gaza, but one boat, the Mikeno, reportedly escaped the maritime blockade and stopped inside Palestinian territorial waters before contact was lost. This marks the first time since 2009 that an unauthorised humanitarian mission has come within 70 nautical miles of Gaza's coast.
The detained activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, are being taken to Ashdod port and will be deported, according to Israeli authorities. Flotilla organisers branded the interceptions as illegal, stating the vessels were in international waters.
Protests erupted in several European cities, including Rome, Brussels, Athens, and Berlin, with demonstrators chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. Italian unions called a general strike for Friday, which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised, saying the mission and strike would not help Palestinians.
Among those detained are nine Irish citizens, including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews, and at least three Polish citizens, including lawmaker Franek Sterczewski. Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris convened a meeting to discuss the situation. Spain's Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz called the interception a crime against international law and urged the EU to break relations with Israel.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Israel of brutality, saying the attack revealed the madness of its genocidal leaders. A coalition group has called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to provide diplomatic protection to Ewa Jasiewicz, a British activist on board the flotilla.
