Israeli forces raid flotilla in international waters off Crete

By: Abudu Olalekan

It happened out in the middle of nowhere. Or so you’d think.

Israeli military forces have intercepted boats travelling with the Global Sumud Flotilla. They didn’t do it quietly either. Using drones, jamming tech, and armed raiding parties, they halted the humanitarian fleet right in the Mediterranean. That’s what organisers say. Israeli media is confirming parts of it too.

“Our boats were approached by military speedboats,” the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission posted Thursday. They self-identified as ‘Israel’. Pointing lasers. Semi-automatic assault weapons too. Participants told to get on their hands and knees. At the front of the boats.

Then came the social media post. “Israeli military boats have illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and threatened kidnapping and violence.”

Communication went dark for 11 vessels. Israeli media claims seven actually got captured. Governments are being urged to act. Now.

Israel Army Radio had a different spin. Cited an anonymous source saying control was seized over aid ships heading towards Gaza. Seven of the flotilla’s 58 vessels captured near the Greek island of Crete.

Ambassador Danny Danon took to social media fast. Called the flotilla “stopped before reaching our area.” Said soldiers were dealing with “delusional attention-seeking agitators.” With determination.

Gur Tsabar, spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, wasn’t having it. Described the boarding as a straight-up attack. On unarmed civilian boats. In international waters.

Speaking to Reportersroom from Toronto, Canada, Tsabar laid it out. The sea assault was happening hundreds of miles from Israel. Surrounded. Threatened at gunpoint.

“This is illegal under international law.” Simple as that. Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters. Boarding amounts to illegal detention. Potentially kidnapping on the high seas.

He stressed the point again. Every government has an obligation to protect the over 400 civilians on board. To uphold the law. Silence in this moment? Absolute complicity.

‘We’ve lost communication with many of our boats’

Tariq Ra’ouf is a writer and activist on board one of the vessels. Told Reportersroom how the fleet got surrounded. Large Israeli military ships blocked the way. Rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) deployed from them.

“From those military ships, a bunch of smaller military RIBs began surrounding many of our vessels,” Ra’ouf said. Drones buzzing overhead. Flashing lights in your eyes. Messages blasting through the radio. Breaking international law. Stop immediately.

The operation unfolded over hours. Flotilla was travelling to Crete when the naval raid started.

“We’ve lost communication with many of our boats,” Ra’ouf admitted.

He added something strange. Communications got jammed. Israeli military playing music over the radio channels. Some sort of psychological warfare tactic apparently.

“We are in international waters.” He emphasized it. Really, truly unprecedented move from Israel. Nowhere near Gaza.

Reportersroom correspondent Jack Barton, reporting from Amman, Jordan, shared intel from anonymous Israeli sources. Aim was to surprise the flotilla. Strike so far from Gaza.

Flotilla estimated to be some 600 nautical miles from Gaza. Previous furthest intercept by Israel was only 72 nautical miles. Much further than any raid carried out in the past.

More than 50 vessels. Activists from multiple countries. Set sail from Italy Sunday. Heading towards Gaza Strip. Organisers claim it’s the largest humanitarian aid flotilla attempting to reach the territory. Where Israel’s genocidal war has killed 72,599 people. Injured 172,411.

Last October things got messy too. Military intercepted some 40 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla. Carrying aid to besieged Gaza. Arrested more than 450 participants. Included Nelson Mandela’s grandson. Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg. European Parliament Member Rima Hassan.

Detained. Taken to Israel. Several alleged physical and psychological abuse while in custody. Expelled later though. Crew members and activists sent back home.

But today is different. Or maybe worse.

The tension is palpable. If they can’t navigate safely, who knows what happens next. Hundreds of people relying on legal protections that seem to vanish the second the water gets deep enough.

It’s been a rough week for the coalition. And with the cameras rolling—or supposed to be—every second counts. Whether this ends in a standoff or a rescue depends on one thing. The rules of the sea. Or rather, who decides to ignore them.