The Israeli military has dismantled an entire humanitarian flotilla seeking to break its siege on war-ravaged Gaza, arresting hundreds of activists from dozens of vessels.
Livestream video showed Israeli forces forcing their way onboard the last vessel Friday morning. The Polish-flagged Marinette, which reportedly has a crew of six, was the final boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla—once a 44-strong fleet—to be seized by Israel.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry claimed that all 461 of the detained activists are “safe and in good health.” Earlier, the Global Sumud Flotilla called on Israel to release all its activists.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned Israel’s detention of journalists, who were among hundreds of activists seized from the vessels.
The journalists were arrested between Wednesday and Thursday when the Israeli navy began intercepting the boats ferrying politicians and activists towards Gaza, RSF said. Vessels with more than 450 people on board had been prevented from reaching the Gaza Strip by the Israeli navy.
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