Under widespread condemnation for its vicious treatment of Flotilla activists, the Israeli government released and deported all 430 participants it had abducted from sailboats earlier in the week. They arrived in Istanbul at around 10:30 am EDT today, Thursday, May 21.
Freedom Flotilla vessels readying for launch from Siracusa Italy on May 2
On Tuesday evening, Israeli forces finished illegally seized the Lina, the last of the more than 50 boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as they were sailing towards Gaza in international waters. The heavily armed Israeli commandos illegally forced the activists onto a prison ship which brought them to the port of Ashdod in Israel.
Al Jazeera reports on the avalanche of criticism produced by the posting of a video by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showing him “taunting activists who were kneeling on the floor with their hands tied behind their backs.”
Fastest ever deportations as Israel scrambles to contain PR damage
Al Jazeera’s reporter, Nida Ibrahim, said “the ongoing deportations were the fastest Israel has ever carried out, as it scrambles to contain the public relations damage caused by Ben-Gvir’s video.” Al Jazeera further reported that:
Several nations, including France, Canada, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, summoned the Israeli ambassadors to their capitals to express their outrage. Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa said he was “appalled” by Ben-Gvir’s behavior, calling it “completely unacceptable.” Italy has demanded an apology from Israel. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani contacted European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, requesting that sanctions against Ben-Gvir be discussed at the bloc’s next meeting of foreign ministers.
In an effort to contain the outrage expressed by these governments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare rebuke to Ben-Gvir.
Condemnation is not enough; action is needed to stop the genocide
However, at a news conference Huwaida Arraf, a founder of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in 2010, said that it is not just Ben Gvir and that condemnation is not enough. “What Ben-Gvir displayed is the true face of Israel—a colonial apartheid regime,” she said. “The brutal treatment of activists is a tiny dose of the genocide Israeli forces inflict on Palestinians. Words of condemnation by government leaders must be accompanied by action to force Israel to end its crimes and to comply with international law.”
Thiago Avila, a leader of the Global Sumud Flotilla, noted that countries that signed the Geneva Convention and the Genocide Convention have an obligation to take action. “Issuing words is not enough. Action to stop the genocide is needed.”
Mobilizing to continue
Both flotilla leaders said, they will continue mobilizing until Palestine has achieved self-determination, freedom, and dignity. “The flotilla is one tactic,” said Huwaida. “One piece of a greater puzzle. There will be other tactics, too, including land mobilizations.”
