No one has taken responsibility for the alleged attack, but according to Persson, there are no other likely actors.
Historically, Israel has taken a tough stance against this type of activist in order to deter them. It can involve individual activists, organizations, or states that are deemed to be going against Israel's interests. Therefore, the thoughts are directed towards Israel.
So far, there has been silence from Israel's side, but Persson means that they previously did not hesitate to take responsibility for similar actions - and does not see why it would be different this time.
One can imagine that Israel can go out and say they are behind this in order to set a precedent. That all activists, or organizations that help them carry out aid operations, will be stopped. Even if it means being stopped on international waters, he says.
Killed nine activists
He draws a parallel to an event in 2010, when the Israeli navy boarded a Gaza convoy and killed nine activists.
Even those ships were attacked on international waters and that action was taken responsibility for.
The fact that the attack on the ship this time was carried out with drones is remarkable according to Persson.
I cannot recall anything similar in history.
Despite this, he is skeptical that the event will be followed by any major consequences.
We have already seen so many things happen in Gaza that do not have any consequences for Israel.
Living in another time
He likens the event again to the attack in 2010 and means that we are now living in another time.
That attack received enormous attention and then Foreign Minister Carl Bildt went to Istanbul and received the affected activists. I have difficulty seeing anything similar today, that is, that the Swedish Foreign Minister would do the same thing.
