Israel attacks only remaining vessel of Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters

Israel on Friday attacked Marinette, the only remaining vessel of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, the organizers said.

In a statement on the US social media company X, the Global Sumud Flotilla said, “Israeli soldiers have boarded the Marinette of the #GlobalSumudFlotilla and taken the activists captive.”

It added that “the livestream ended abruptly after a soldier smashed the camera upon boarding.”

The Polish-flagged Marinette, said to have a crew of six, was the last remaining operational vessel of the 44-strong fleet.

Israeli naval forces attacked and seized vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla on Thursday and detained more than 450 activists from over 50 countries. The flotilla had been attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s blockade of the enclave.

Israel has maintained the blockade on Gaza, home to nearly 2.4 million people, for almost 18 years.

Since October 2023, Israeli bombardments have killed over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in the enclave and rendered it uninhabitable.