Over 100 Gaza aid flotilla activists taken to Crete after Israeli interception

More than 100 activists aboard aid ships bound for Gaza were taken to the Greek island of Crete on Friday after Israeli forces seized their vessels in international waters near Greece, flotilla organisers said. The activists were part of a second Global Sumud Flotilla, launched in recent months in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance. The ships set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12. On Friday, an Israeli army ship transferred 168 members of the flotilla crew to Greek boats, which then took them to shore, where buses and an ambulance waited for them, organisers said and Reuters footage showed. Former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad is also part of the Global Sumud Flotilla mission, though it is not immediately clear if he was among those taken into Israeli custody. Before communications were jammed, he posted videos to social media platform X saying, “Flotilla under attack, Israeli terrorist army has captured 11 of our boats.” Israel’s foreign ministry called the flotilla organisers “professional provocateurs”. Two activists held The organisers said two activists remained with Israeli authorities. Spain’s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said 30 Spaniards had arrived in Crete, but one Spanish national, Saif Abu Keshek, had been “illegally” arrested and was being taken to Israel. “We demand his immediate release,” he said. Israel’s foreign ministry said Abu Keshek was suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and, along with a second activist suspected of illegal activity, would be taken to Israel for questioning. “Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” the foreign ministry said. Germany’s and Italy’s foreign ministries issued a joint statement saying they were following developments with “deep concern”. A source who asked not to be identified said that while 22 boats had been intercepted by Israel, 47 others were still sailing off southern Crete