Two Lebanese aboard Gaza flotilla stormed by Israeli troops
Two activists of Lebanese origins were aboard the Gaza aid flotilla that was intercepted overnight by the Israeli navy and their fate remains unknown but were likely arrested by Israeli forces, media reports said on Thursday.
The reports identified the two Lebanese as Lina al-Tabbal and Mohammad al-Qaderi.
Tabbal is a French-Lebanese international law expert who hails from the northern city of Tripoli while Qaderi, a Lebanese-Brazilian, is the head of the Brazil-based Latin Palestinian Forum.
Most of those who were aboard the flotilla had thrown their cellphones into the sea, but Tabbal had said: “We are 100 miles away from Gaza and we’re expected to arrive at 5:00 am. We expect the Israeli forces to arrest us tonight and we’re preparing for the worst scenarios.”
“They might hurl stun grenades at us and there are drones that continuously fly over our vessels. Any storming of the vessels by the Israeli forces would be considered piracy and a clear violation of the international law,” Tabbal added.
“For Gaza, for Syria, for Lebanon … for Humanity. Because pain knows no borders .. and neither should dignity,” she had also written in an English-language post on X.
Israel said on Thursday it will deport the activists who were on the aid flotilla intercepted at sea as they headed towards Gaza, adding that none of the vessels had successfully breached its maritime blockade.
The Global Sumud Flotilla of around 45 vessels began its voyage last month, with politicians and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg heading to Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has set in.
The Israeli navy has intercepted vessel after vessel at sea since Wednesday, after warning the activists against entering waters it says fall under its blockade, with Thunberg's boat among those stopped from going further.
"None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade," Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement.
"One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented."
According to Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, 39 of the around 45 ships have been intercepted and were headed to the Israeli port city of Ashdod, according to state broadcaster ERT.
"All passengers are in good health. No violence has been exercised," Gerapetritis said.
Israel said the activists would be deported to Europe, without specifying which countries they would be sent to.
"Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin," the foreign ministry said on X, posting photos of Thunberg and other activists aboard a boat.
In a statement, the flotilla organizers branded the interceptions as "illegal".
"Beyond the confirmed interceptions, livestreams and communications with several other vessels have been lost," they added.
With the war in Gaza dragging on, solidarity with the Palestinians has grown globally, with activists and increasingly governments condemning Israel for its conduct.
Spain and Italy, which both sent naval escorts to protect their citizens on board the flotilla, had urged the activists to halt before entering Israel's declared exclusion zone off Gaza, saying they would not be allowed to pass that mark.
The boats, with dozens of activists from around the world on board, initially set sail from several European ports.
After a 10-day stop in Tunisia, where organizers reported two drone attacks, the flotilla resumed its journey on September 15.
One of the main ships, the Alma, was "aggressively circled by an Israeli warship," the organizers said, before another vessel, the Sirius, was subjected to "similar harassing maneuvers."
- 'Intimidation' -
The organizers vowed to press on with their bid to break the siege and deliver aid to Gaza despite what they called "intimidation" tactics by the Israeli military.
In Italy, which has already seen a general strike in support of the flotilla, hundreds of protesters turned out on Wednesday in Rome.
In Naples, demonstrators blocked trains at the main station for around an hour before being cleared by police.
Unions have called for another strike on Friday to urge stronger action from the government against Israel's actions in Gaza.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he will expel all remaining Israeli diplomats in the country over the interception.
Turkey called the interception "an act of terrorism," and on Thursday said it had opened an investigation after Israeli forces arrested Turkish citizens on board the flotilla.
The activists also include Mandela Mandela, the grandson of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://test.naharnet.com/stories/en/315648 |