Two vessels still heading to Gaza as Israel seizes Global Sumud Flotilla boats

Two vessels are still heading towards Gaza in the Global Sumud Flotilla, after Israeli forces intercepted the majority of boats getting towards the enclave to deliver vital aid. 

Late on Wednesday evening, Israeli naval forces began intercepting multiple ships and taking those on board towards Israel's Ashdod port.

Twenty-one ships were confirmed by organisers to have been intercepted by Israeli forces. 

A further 18 ships have not communicated with organisers since the early hours, and are assumed to have been intercepted. 

Early on Thursday morning, a tracker showed that the Mikeno ship had entered Palestinian territorial waters off the coast of Gaza. 

As of 9am UTC in Gaza, the Fair Lady vessel was still in contact with organisers and headed towards the enclave. It is one of the furthest away from Gaza, and will likely be intercepted once it approaches.

Mikeno, which was tracked approaching Gaza earlier in the morning, lost communication with organisers at 08:21 UTC. Its whereabouts is unknown, and the tracker has remained stationary.

Israel’s foreign ministry released footage showing climate activist Greta Thunberg, the most high-profile activist on the flotilla, surrounded by armed soldiers on one of the boats on Wednesday evening.

The flotilla, carrying food and medicine for Gaza, consisted of over 40 civilian vessels with around 500 people onboard, including parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.

Several of the boats were around 70 nautical miles from Gaza when Israeli forces moved in. 

Videos shared by passengers on Telegram showed individuals holding their passports, saying they had been abducted and taken to Israel against their will. They stressed the flotilla’s mission was peaceful and humanitarian.

Governments condemn 'dastardly attack'

Several countries have condemned the Israeli interceptions. 

Spain’s labour minister and deputy prime minister, Yolanda Diaz, condemned Israel’s raid on the Gaza aid flotilla as “a crime against international law” and demanded the immediate release of those detained.

Brazil’s foreign ministry said it “deplores the Israeli government’s military action, which violates rights and endangers the physical well-being of peaceful protesters”. 

It added: “The responsibility for the safety of those detained now rests with Israel.”

Those on-board included 15 Brazilian nationals, of whom one is lawmaker Luizianne Lins.

Pakistan strongly condemned Israel’s interception, describing it as a “dastardly attack”.

“We hope and pray for the safety of all those who have been illegally apprehended by Israeli forces and call for their immediate release. Their crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.

Turkey's foreign ministry also denounced the naval raid, calling it a “terrorist” act.