Gaza Flotilla Sends Message After Israel Intercepts Boat

Israeli forces intercepted a boat that formed part of the Gaza Flotilla and escorted it back to Ashdod port on Sunday, June 28. The Marianne was one of four boats from the Freedom Flotilla III, which was carrying 47 passengers from 17 countries. The flotilla aims to reach Gaza to deliver aid and supplies, breaking what they describe as an illegal Israeli-imposed blockade.

In the first video, Marianne passenger Dror Feiler says “If you see this video, it means that the Israelis have broken international law again. It mean that they took us as prisoners”. Marianne captain Joel Opperdoes and Feiler’s video appear to have been pre-recorded.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said “This flotilla is nothing but a demonstration of hypocrisy and lies that is only assisting the Hamas terrorist organization and ignores all of the horrors in our region”, in a statement posted to his official Facebook account. He reaffirmed the legality of the Navy’s actions, describing it as international law and as having “received backing from a committee of the UN Secretary General.”

Several more videos from people on board the flotilla are available here. Credit: YouTube/Freedom Flotilla Coalition