Video: Israel ‘preparing harsh crackdown and ‘severe conditions’ for Gaza humanitarian flotilla volunteers

Flotilla organisers appeal for concerted action to force UN and governments to intervene against criminal occupation

Organisers of the huge Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) of volunteer humanitarian vessels en route to Gaza have received reports that Israel is “preparing a harsh crackdown on the flotilla, with plans to detain activists under severe conditions”.

Previous vessels have been either bombed or criminally boarded by Israel in international waters, with crews held hostage by Israeli forces and taken into punitive detention. At least one crew member – the only Black volunteer – of the Handala, the most recently attacked boat, was badly beaten by Israeli prison guards and police. In 2010, Israel attacked the Mavi Marmara flotilla and murdered ten humanitarian volunteers.

Now the activists are sending well over fifty vessels, with crew members from over forty countries, in an attempt to force world governments to fulfil their obligations under international law and act both to protect the boats and break Israel’s criminal starvation blockade on Gaza.

Despite encountering more stormy weather and being stalked by presumably Israeli drones, the flotilla has successfully reached Tunisia, where it was joined by more boats and hundreds more volunteers. Organisers have issued a video message calling on the UN and national governments to act against Israel’s planned anti-humanitarian escalation of its criminality:

As the GSF says:

Now more than ever, we must push the UN and governments to act. Stand with the flotilla — the hope of Gaza and humanity.

Despite the perfect clarity of Britain’s obligations under international law, the Starmer regime continues to assist Israel in its genocide with RAF spy flights, arms shipments and a ‘lawfare’ war against UK journalists and activists who speak out or protest against Israel’s crimes.

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