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Climate activist Greta Thunberg was among the 443 people "forcibly taken from their vessels" when Israeli forces intercepted an aid flotilla bound for Gaza on Thursday (October 2), NBC News reports.
The 43 vessels aimed to break the blockade of the Palestinian enclave and 40 were being tracked online by the Global Sumud Flotilla as having been confirmed or presumed to have been stopped by Israeli forces, the organizers announced in a statement shared on Thursday. At least one ship, the Mikeno, which sailed under the French flag, was reported to have reached just off Gaza's coast, according to the online tracker, though the organization specified that it lost communication. Another ship, the Marinette, sailing under the Polish flag, remained in communication and had six passengers onboard, according to the organization.
Israel's foreign ministry said there was "one last vessel" remaining in the distance and claimed it was entering "an active combat zone" if it approached to breach the blockade. The individuals detained would reportedly be taken to Israel and deported back to their respective European countries, according to the Israeli foreign ministry.
"The Hamas-Sumud provocation is over," Israeli said, tying the organization to Hamas. "None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade. All the passengers are safe and in good health. They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe. One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented."
A United Nations commission comprised of a team of independent experts formally accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and called on the international community to end the campaign earlier this month.
“The international community cannot stay silent on the genocidal campaign launched by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza. When clear signs and evidence of genocide emerge, the absence of action to stop it amounts to complicity,” said Navi Pillay, chair of the commission, via NBC News. “Every day of inaction costs lives and erodes the credibility of the international community."
Israel, which launched its war with Hamas following the terror attacks on a music festival in October 2023, rejected the accusations as "distorted and false." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel now only has "a very short window" to reach a cease-fire deal with Hamas following the launching of expanded ground operations.