Israel halts another Gaza aid flotilla as MEPs demand activists’ release
New group of vessels intercepted in international waters while at least seven people from previous flotilla still held
A Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s naval blockade has been intercepted by the Israeli military, days after the detention of activists on an earlier flotilla led to international outrage and widespread protests.
Nine sailing vessels flying Italian and French flags and a motor ship registered in Timor-Leste were intercepted and boarded starting at 4.34am on Wednesday in international waters roughly 120 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, the group’s organisers the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madleens to Gaza said in a statement.