Israeli occupation forces storm the "Global Resilience Flotilla" off Cyprus

Israeli media reported on Monday that elite units in the Israeli navy have begun the process of controlling the "Global Steadfastness Flotilla" that set off last Thursday  from Turkey towards the Gaza Strip, noting that the interceptions took place off the coast of Cyprus hundreds of kilometers away.

Israeli naval vessels intercepted the humanitarian flotilla in international waters as it sailed from Turkey to the besieged enclave, amid reports that commandos stormed ships and arrested dozens of international activists, while the mission's organizers stressed that their mission was "completely humanitarian and peaceful."

Details of the attack and control of the fleet

 Israeli media, including Yedioth Ahronoth and Channel 12, reported that the elite naval commando unit "Shaitit 13" carried out the operation to control the flotilla's ships hundreds of miles from  the Palestinian coast.

According to reports, the occupation forces arrested about 100 activists who were on board the ships, and they were immediately transferred to an Israeli warship that was equipped to operate as a "floating prison", in preparation for towing the ships and later transferring the solidarity activists to the port of Ashdod.

Naval blockade, lawyers document 'piracy'

On the ground, the correspondent of the "Al-Jazeera" network explained that four Israeli warships surrounded the flotilla at sea and asked the boats to stop their engines, before the heavily armed soldiers boarded the main ship "in broad daylight."

On the other hand, the organizers of the initiative announced on the "X" platform that they were subjected to systematic "acts of piracy" aimed at preventing the arrival of relief to Gaza.

A source within the flotilla confirmed that this objection "will not dissuade those in charge of it from continuing their attempts to break the siege," revealing that a team of lawyers is keeping pace with developments to document Israeli violations with the aim of prosecuting Tel Aviv before international courts.

54 ships carrying solidarity workers from 70 countries

The Global Resilience Flotilla set off last Thursday from the Turkish port of Marmaris, with the participation of 54 ships and humanitarian barges, carrying hundreds of solidarity activists, including doctors, lawyers, human rights activists, and journalists representing about 70 countries around the world. The main vessel, named "Family", includes a central operations room to coordinate the movement of boats and direct medical and food aid to the stricken sector.

The pretext of "violence" and Netanyahu's security plans

On the other hand, the political and security circles in Tel Aviv had arranged for the attack in advance, with the Jerusalem Post revealing that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a mini-security meeting to draw up a plan to intercept ships before they entered territorial waters.

Israeli officials have tried to justify  the attack on the flotilla with claims promoted by the Hebrew press that this time the flotilla participants are "more violent" than in previous campaigns, allegations that the organizers have categorically denied and emphasized the peaceful identity of their mission.

A replay of the "Mavi Marmara" scenario

The military attack is reminiscent of the deadly incident of the Turkish Mavi Marmara in 2010, when Israeli commandos stormed the vessel in international waters using live ammunition,   killing and wounding dozens of Turkish activists and triggering a severe diplomatic crisis between Ankara and Tel Aviv that lasted for years.

Today's attack also comes as an extension of a similar operation carried out by the Israeli navy last April, when it seized ships belonging to the same fleet and arrested their crews.

Worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza

These continuous humanitarian attempts to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007, which has reached unprecedented catastrophic levels in light of the ongoing war of genocide waged by the occupation army on the Gaza Strip since October 7  , 2023, which has left a total destruction of infrastructure, and caused the marriage and displacement of about 1.5 million Palestinians living under the weight of real famine and severe shortages of basic medical supplies.