Israel intercepts a Dutch ship in the Gaza flotilla; at least 11 Dutch nationals in Israeli custody
The Israeli navy intercepted the Dutch ship Mohammed Bahr, which is part of a fleet carrying aid to Gaza. Seven Dutch nationals on board were arrested, along with four others from different ships. According to the organization behind the Global Solidarity Fleet—where the word 'solidarity' means 'perseverance' in Arabic—there are still five Dutch nationals at sea.
On the night of the interception, Israel stopped at least 13 ships among the dozens that attempted to reach Gaza. Among those detained was Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, while South African activist Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, was on another ship. It remains unclear whether he is in the custody of Israeli authorities. The organization reported that some ships are now less than 50 kilometers from the Gaza coast, which is much closer than a previous attempt when the Medlin ship was intercepted 200 kilometers in international waters.
With the news of the protests spreading, French leftist Member of the European Parliament Emma Foró called for global protests, urging her followers to 'shut everything down' and 'end the blockade, end the genocide in Gaza.' Protests quickly erupted in major cities around the world such as Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Berlin, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. In the Netherlands, protesters gathered outside the Foreign Ministry in The Hague.
For its part, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all passengers, but it has not yet issued an official position regarding the detention of its citizens. Meanwhile, Israel released a video showing Greta Thunberg receiving a bottle of water and a jacket, confirming that the detainees are fine.
Israel described the convoy as the 'Hamas-Resilience Fleet', noting that activists rejected offers from Israel, Italy, and Greece to deliver aid through peaceful means. Israeli authorities say the convoy's goal is more politically provocative than humanitarian. However, critics point to the ongoing blockade of Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis; according to Al Jazeera citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 66,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, including about 20,000 children. Among the victims, 440 died of starvation, including 147 children.