The Israeli navy began boarding the Gaza convoy Global Sumud Flotillas' (GSF) boats on Wednesday evening. The boat that climate activist Greta Thunberg was on, Alma, was one of the first boats to be stopped, according to the activists.
So far, the boats Adara, Alma, and Sirius have been stopped, says a spokesperson for GSF in a live broadcast on Instagram.
It is unclear how many Swedish citizens have been detained, out of the several hundred activists on the ships. One of those taken into custody by the Israeli military is French EU parliamentarian Emma Fourreau, who was also traveling on Alma. Fourreau represents the left-wing party LFI in parliament and is a Swedish citizen, with a Swedish mother and French father.
Sent a call
The Israeli operation began just before 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday – over 20 miles west of Gaza – and is believed to continue throughout the night, according to French-Palestinian EU parliamentarian Rima Hassan.
We have 44 boats, so it will continue all night until early Thursday. An Israeli boat is chasing us, we have thrown our phones into the sea. Mine and a Spanish journalist's phones are left, we will keep them until the end. We will continue until we are boarded, she tells Le Monde.
Prior to their action, Israel had sent a call to the boats via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to change course:
"Israel has informed the convoy that it is approaching an active war zone and is breaking a legal naval blockade."
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says that Israeli representatives have assured that the soldiers have been given clear orders not to use violence against the activists. He tells public service company Rai that the activists will be taken to the port of Ashdod in Israel and then deported.
Spanish sympathy
The goal of the convoy was to deliver emergency aid to the Gaza Strip and thus break Israel's blockade of the area.
However, the activists had expected that the Israeli authorities, as in previous similar trips, would stop them a good distance away.
Both Italy and Spain, which have sent warships to escort the convoy during parts of its journey, have urged the activists not to sail into the area where Israel is expected to act.
Spain's Prime Minister defends the activists' purpose.
One must remember that this is a humanitarian action that would not have taken place if the Israeli government had allowed emergency aid to enter, said Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson urged the activists to go home.
