Activists vow to continue Gaza flotilla mission despite Israeli attacks

As Israeli naval forces attacked several vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza, activists said they would continue their humanitarian mission despite ongoing detentions at sea. "We could last another day, we could last another hour, we don't know yet, but we're going to keep going until they stop us," Irish activist Mikey Cullen told Anadolu from aboard one of the vessels.

Flotilla mission

Originally departing from Barcelona on April 12 before joining additional vessels across the Mediterranean, the Gaza-bound aid flotilla had most recently set sail from the Turkish port of Marmaris on Thursday with 54 vessels. On Monday morning, Israeli naval warships intervened in 16 vessels from the convoy, some 250 nautical miles from the enclave, organizers said.

Evading Israeli forces

Cullen said he was awakened to reports that several vessels at the front of the convoy had already been intercepted. "My boat is currently evading the IDF, they are chasing us but one of their prison boats is maybe a kilometer or two behind us on the horizon. We are heading south towards Gaza." He described the interception as unlawful and a violation of international law.

Spanish activist's account

Spanish activist Javi Aparente told Anadolu that the interception unfolded across multiple vessels in international waters. "Once again, the regime of Israel is pretending to be above all sorts of international laws and conscience and committing their crimes in plain sight because they know that the level of impunity they have achieved is at the top level."

American activist's condemnation

Meagan Marie Dominguez, an American activist on board the Kasr-i Sadabat vessel, said the mission was protected under international humanitarian law, calling the interception "a complete crime against humanity." "When food and medicine has become a crime, the world needs to check in with itself," she said.