This came in a statement issued by the Authority early Thursday morning, in which it explained that the Global Steadfastness Flotilla, a civilian and peaceful vessel transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza, was subjected to an "illegal raid" by Israeli forces in international waters.
The statement added that the Israeli Navy raided 15 ships in the flotilla and arrested 25 Turkish activists from several participating vessels, including the Sirius, Alma, Spectre, Hugh I, Deir Yassin I, and Grande Blue.
He affirmed that Israel's practices constitute a "serious violation" of international law and maritime security, emphasizing that the flotilla set sail entirely for humanitarian purposes.
The statement called for the immediate release of activists detained on ships participating in the flotilla.
In this context, the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation on Thursday into Israel's arrest of Turkish citizens during its raid on ships belonging to the Global Steadfastness Flotilla in international waters.
A statement from the Attorney General's Office explained that the Israeli Navy arrested Turkish activists following its attacks on the Global Steadfastness Flotilla in international waters, which aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and break the blockade.
He added that the office had opened an investigation into the incident under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and relevant Turkish laws regarding "deprivation of liberty," "hijacking or seizure of means of transport," "robbery," "damage to property," and "torture."
On Wednesday evening, the Steadfastness Flotilla, a group dedicated to breaking the siege on Gaza, announced via its account on the X Company platform that it had been attacked by approximately 10 Israeli ships.
The flotilla issued a distress call after the Israeli occupation forces intercepted some of its ships in international waters, deeming this escalation a "war crime."
In turn, the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza reported that "the Israeli occupation navy has confirmed that some of the flotilla's ships have been stormed."
International organizations, including Amnesty International, called for protection for the "Resilience Flotilla," while the United Nations affirmed that any 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 sailed together toward Gaza, home to some 2.4 million Palestinians, in a collective attempt to break the Israeli blockade of the territory.
Israel has been besieging the Gaza Strip for 18 years, leaving approximately 1.5 million Palestinians out of a population of approximately 2.4 million in the Strip homeless after their homes were destroyed in the war of extermination.
Since March 2, all Gaza crossings have been closed, allowing only a very small number of trucks carrying humanitarian aid into the Strip, plunging the Strip into a famine that the United Nations has warned will rapidly worsen.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, leaving 66,148 martyrs and 168,716 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 455 Palestinians, including 151 children.
