The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the rest were awaiting deportation, while police confirmed that its naval forces arrested 470 activists, who were searched before being transferred to the Population and Immigration Authority and the Prison Service. The Prison Service stated that approximately 200 activists were interrogated before being detained in Ketziot Prison.
Within 48 hours, the Israeli Navy seized 42 of the flotilla's ships as they sailed through international waters toward Gaza, before announcing on Friday morning the seizure of the Marinette, the flotilla's last ship.
On Wednesday, the Steadfastness Flotilla, a group dedicated to breaking the siege on Gaza, announced via the company's X platform that it had been attacked by approximately 10 Israeli ships. It also issued a distress call after the Israeli military intercepted its ships in international waters, deeming the escalation a "war crime."
The Israeli attack sparked popular protests and official condemnations in several countries, with calls for the release of detained activists and for Tel Aviv to be held accountable for its crimes and violations of international law.
International organizations, including Amnesty International, called for protection for the "Resilience Flotilla," while the United Nations affirmed that the attack on it was "unacceptable."
Israel, the occupying power in Palestine, has previously carried out piracy against ships bound for Gaza, seizing them and deporting the activists on board.
This is the first time that dozens of ships have set sail together toward Gaza, home to approximately 2.4 million Palestinians, in a collective attempt to break the 18-year Israeli blockade of the territory.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, leaving 66,225 martyrs and 168,938 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 455 Palestinians, including 151 children.
