Israeli navy intercepts ‘Global Resilience’ aid flotilla

Activists aboard a flotilla bound for Gaza said on Wednesday evening that the Israeli navy had begun intercepting their vessels.

They said on social media that warships approached the flotilla and ordered the ships to stop their engines.

The “Global Steadfast” flotilla comprises about 50 small vessels carrying roughly 500 people, and is transporting a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid — food and medicine — destined for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The flotilla, which includes Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela and several members of the European Parliament, had insisted on continuing its mission to break the Israeli blockade of the territory and reach Palestinians, despite a tense night in the Mediterranean.

Tiago Avilla, one of the flotilla’s leaders and spokespeople, told reporters on Wednesday at an online press conference from aboard the mother ship “Alma”: “Every minute we take another step forward.”