Another Gaza-Bound Pro-Palestinian Boat Intercepted at Sea; 10 More Reportedly En Route

At midday on Tuesday, Shayetet 13 commandos took control in open waters of the boat "Andros," which was part of the "Marmara 2" flotilla and was making its way to the Gaza Strip. They later took control of several additional boats. In total, since yesterday, IDF forces have so far stopped 41 boats that set out from Turkey, and the military is now preparing to stop 10 more boats at sea. These departed from Turkey and Greece, but changed course in an attempt to evade IDF forces.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry released footage showing anti-Israel activists embracing after being transferred to Israeli vessels from the boats on which they had intended to reach the Gaza Strip, and referred to them as "activists from the provocation flotilla." The statement noted that "so far, no humanitarian aid has been found on their boats."

One of the central claims made by the flotilla organizers, both now and in the past, is that they are bringing supplies and medical and humanitarian equipment to Gaza residents. According to them, this is due to a severe shortage of food and equipment in the Strip, since Israel is reducing the number of aid trucks permitted to enter Gaza.

Israel has denied those claims more than once, and today received backing from its Council for Gaza Peace. The council said in a statement that "humanitarian aid to Gaza has increased by more than seventy percent since the ceasefire. About three hundred thousand tons of aid have entered the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire took effect."