Mass protests break out worldwide as Israel seizes 13 aid boats to Gaza

Israeli forces intercepted 13 out of 43 ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, organisers of the flotilla said on Thursday, adding that the 30 remaining boats are still on their way to the war-ravaged enclave, Euronews writes.

Israeli authorities said activists on board of the intercepted ships, including climate activist Thunberg, were safe and transferred to Israel. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian public broadcaster Rai that the activists would be deported in the coming days and that Israeli forces were told “not to use violence.”

The flotilla consists of nearly 500 activists, including Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and several European lawmakers.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s seizure of the ships, calling it an “act of terrorism” and a gross violation of international law.

Italian unions called a general strike for Friday in solidarity with the international aid flotilla for Gaza, while protests sprang up in a number of cities late on Wednesday after reports that the ships had been intercepted by military personnel. Mass protests were also held in Ankara, Istanbul, Berlin and Barcelona.