Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla in international waters

Seven Irish citizens among people detained by Israel on Global Sumud flotilla ships seeking to carry humanitarian aid to Palestinians

Global Sumud Flotilla boats carrying activists and humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza at the symbolic send-off from Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, April 12. File picture: Joan Mateu Parra/AP 

Israel has intercepted aid ships bound for Gaza in international waters near Greece, flotilla organisers said yesterday, decrying the move as an “escalation of Israel’s impunity”.

The ships make up part of a second Global Sumud flotilla to try in recent months to break an Israeli blockade by carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. They sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12.