Israel’s Foreign Ministry released a statement Monday evening addressing the Sumud flotilla, a convoy of vessels currently sailing toward the Gaza Strip.
In its message, the Ministry referred to the mission as the “Hamas Flotilla” and made clear that Israel would not allow any attempt to break the naval blockade of Gaza.
“This flotilla, organized by Hamas, is intended to serve Hamas. Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade,” the statement declared.
The Ministry said that if the participants truly sought to provide humanitarian supplies, they should dock in Ashkelon. “If the flotilla participants’ genuine wish is to deliver humanitarian aid rather than serve Hamas, Israel calls on the vessels to dock at the Ashkelon Marina and unload the aid there, from where it will be transferred promptly in a coordinated manner to the Gaza Strip,” the statement added.
“Israel urges the participants not to break the law and to accept Israel’s proposal for a peaceful transfer of any aid they might have,” the statement concluded.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which counts climate activist Greta Thunberg among its passengers, insists that it is an independent initiative unaffiliated with governments or political organizations. The voyage has already been marred by at least two suspected drone strikes while the boats were moored near Tunisia.
Local officials in Tunisia at first denied any drone activity, but later issued a statement describing the incidents as a “premeditated attack.”
Thunberg herself was expelled from Israel in June after joining another flotilla, the Madleen, which was intercepted by the Israeli navy.
Following that incident, the participants received food and water from Israeli authorities, despite having pre-recorded video messages in which they alleged they had been “kidnapped” by the IDF.
The Foreign Ministry later revealed that the cargo on board the Madleen amounted to less than a single truckload of supplies, and that the contents were delivered to Gaza through established humanitarian channels.
{Matzav.com Israel}
