Flotilla: arrested activists disembark in Crete, two of them taken to Israel for questioning

Dozens of activists on board the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza were disembarked on the island of Crete, after their boats were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. Although the Israeli Foreign Ministry had previously stated that around 175 activists had been disembarked from more than 20 boats yesterday, flotilla organizers gave different figures, giving a total of 211 people.

Israel’s interrogations and accusations

The Israeli Foreign Ministry also announced that two activists stopped off the coast of Crete — the Brazilian Thiago Avila and the Palestinian Saif Abu Keshek — will be transferred to Israeli territory for interrogation. Through a message released on social media, the ministry specified that Abu Keshek is “suspected of belonging to a terrorist organization”, while Avila was described as “suspected of illegal activities”. The remaining activists, around 175 people stopped after the interception on the high seas, are expected to reach Crete on board an Israeli ship.

The diplomatic position and the role of the USA

According to Israel’s official version, the Global Sumud Flotilla is nothing more than a “provocation led by Hamasdesigned to divert attention from the organization’s refusal to disarm” and to pander to the interests of “professional provocateurs”. In a post published on

The note from Palazzo Chigi

Yesterday, the Italian Government formally requested Israel for the immediate release of all Italian citizens illegally stopped, demanding full respect for international law and guarantees regarding the physical safety of the people on board. The note from Palazzo Chigi came at the end of a summit chaired this morning by Giorgia Meloni to take stock of the matter. The Government also reiterated its commitment to continuing to provide humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza, always operating within the framework of international cooperation.