Israel Blocks Aid Ships Bound for Gaza Facing Starvation Crisis

The Israeli military announced on April 30 (local time) that it had intercepted an international aid flotilla heading toward the Gaza Strip in Palestine and detained the activists on board.

Residents of the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, Palestine, stood devastated on the 24th (local time) in front of the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli military airstrike. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Israeli Navy seized 21 out of 58 vessels belonging to the "Global Sumud Flotilla" on the previous day in waters near the Greek island of Crete, several hundred nautical miles from the Israeli mainland. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated via social networking service X (formerly Twitter) that around 20 vessels and 175 activists had been detained and were being transported to Israel. The navy added that additional vessels could be seized if they did not change course.

The aid flotilla departed from Barcelona, Spain, on the 12th to deliver relief supplies to residents of the Gaza Strip. At the time, 39 ships set sail, and additional vessels carrying medical aid and other supplies were expected to join.

Activist groups and Middle Eastern countries protested the actions of the Israeli military. Activist organizations described the move as a "dangerous and unprecedented escalation" and said, "This is the abduction of civilians in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, more than 600 miles (about 965 km) from Gaza, in full view of the world." The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement, saying, "Israel attacked a relief flotilla that sought to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe facing Gaza’s residents," and pointed out that "Israel once again violated humanitarian principles and international law."

Activists for Gaza have repeatedly attempted to deliver aid supplies to residents facing starvation due to Israel’s land blockade. In October of last year, around 40 vessels under the name "Global Sumud Flotilla" (GSF) set out for Gaza, but continued to be blocked by the Israeli blockade. More than 500 people, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, were on board the GSF flotilla and were sent back to their home countries by the Israeli military.

The Gaza Strip is currently under a six-month ceasefire. However, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 790 people have been killed by Israeli forces even during the ceasefire period. Around 2 million Gaza residents remain in a state of food and medical shortages.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.