Organizers of the pro-Palestinian flotilla hoping to hold assist to Gaza mentioned that Israel attacked them with “flash bombs, explosive flares, and suspected chemical compounds” because it approached the war-torn Palestinian territory.
“The Israeli occupation forces have launched at the very least 11 assaults on the World Sumud Flotilla as it’s 600 nautical miles [1,100 kilometres] from Gaza,” the CODEPINK group mentioned in a social media put up early on Wednesday.
“Israel is threatening and terrorizing humanitarians carrying assist in worldwide waters. Demand protected passage for the flotilla. Break the siege on Gaza now,” the group mentioned, in feedback additionally shared by the flotilla.
World Sumud Flotilla revealed a video on its social media channels early on Wednesday exhibiting what it mentioned have been “flashbangs… a non-lethal explosive gadget used primarily by police or army forces. It’s designed to incapacitate folks quickly with out inflicting everlasting damage, making it helpful in crowd management or hostage rescue operations.”
The activists mentioned that “explosive flares” and “suspected chemical compounds” have been deployed towards the boats in addition to “unidentified drones and communications jamming.”
“We’re witnessing these psychological operations firsthand, proper now, however we won’t be intimidated,” the flotilla mentioned in a Telegram put up.
Earlier, Francesca Albanese, the UN particular rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, reposted one of many flotilla’s movies on her X web page.
“ninth assault reported on humanitarian boats in int’l waters (southwest of Crete) – in the midst of the evening! Et voilà: genocidaire on land, maritime outlaw at sea,” she wrote within the social media thread.
The World Sumud Flotilla, which set off from Barcelona in late August with lots of of activists on board, is aiming to breach the Israeli sea blockade of the Gaza coast to ship humanitarian assist to the inhabitants of the war-torn territory. “Sumud” means steadfastness in Arabic.
Israel has up to now thwarted a lot of makes an attempt to breach its sea blockade. Most not too long ago, activists mentioned two World Sumud Flotilla vessels have been attacked whereas in Tunisian waters over about 24 hours earlier in September.
