HIBAPRESS – Agencies
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported today, Thursday, that the Israeli army has seized control of over 40 ships and boats that participated in the Freedom Flotilla.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority stated that hundreds of participants in the flotilla were taken to Ashdod port for deportation from Israel.
The Authority noted that 4 boats participating in the flotilla broke down at sea due to technical problems.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority confirmed that the Israeli army is conducting extensive combing operations at sea to ensure that no boat approaches Gaza.
The organizers of the Freedom Flotilla had stated that the ship "Mekino," one of the ships of the international "Freedom Flotilla," had succeeded at dawn today, Thursday, in breaking the naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and reaching Palestinian territorial waters, despite more than 20 attempts at interception.
Sources within the "Freedom Flotilla" said that the navigational data of the ship "Mekino" shows it entering Gaza's territorial waters, which is 9 nautical miles from the Strip's shores.
Youssef Ajissa, Vice President of the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza, said, "Israeli forces have seized about 20 ships of the flotilla out of 45," noting that the large and leading ships were seized with the aim of disrupting the movement, but that the rest of the ships continue sailing."
The spokesperson called on governments and international institutions to intervene to protect the safety of the participants detained by the Israeli forces and to expedite their release unconditionally.
