Activist Caitriona Graham said Israeli forces used rubber bullets, restraints, and physical force to intercept a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension surrounding humanitarian access to Gaza and the methods used by Israeli authorities to enforce maritime blockades.
Graham reported her account from Istanbul after being deported from Israel. She said the interception involved the detention of activists aboard the flotilla. The convoy consisted of around 40 boats [1]. According to reports, hundreds of activists were detained during the operation [2].
Israeli authorities intercepted the flotilla citing security concerns and the need to prevent the delivery of aid to Gaza [3]. Graham said there was violence during the boarding process. This account of force is echoed by other participants; Thiago Avila said, "They beat me until I lost consciousness."
Following the interception, the treatment of the detainees varied. While Graham and others were deported from Israel, some reports indicate that other activists were released [4]. The use of physical restraints and rubber bullets was noted as part of the boarding tactics used by the Israeli military to secure the vessels.
The flotilla was intended to break the blockade and provide direct assistance to the population in Gaza. The seizure of the vessels and the subsequent deportation of participants like Graham underscores the strict control Israel maintains over the territory's borders.
“Israeli forces used rubber bullets, restraints, and physical force to intercept a Gaza-bound aid flotilla”
The interception of the aid flotilla demonstrates the continued commitment of the Israeli government to maintain its blockade of Gaza, regardless of the humanitarian nature of the cargo. The reported use of force and the mass detention of international activists likely increase diplomatic pressure and visibility for the Gaza crisis on the global stage.
