Israel releases most activists after intercepting Gaza aid flotilla
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 1
Israel releases most activists after intercepting Gaza aid flotilla
9 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 1
Around 175 people on 22 boats seized near Crete were disembarked in Greece, while two men, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila, remain in Israeli custody.
Organisers said Israeli forces boarded the flotilla in international waters, damaged vessels and left some stranded near an approaching storm; Israel said the operation was lawful, peaceful and casualty-free.
The convoy had sailed from Spain, France and Italy to challenge Gaza's blockade, drawing support from Spain and Italy for detainees, while the US backed Israel and Gaza's humanitarian crisis persists.
How might the Israeli interception of the Gaza aid flotilla affect future humanitarian missions and the legal debate over blockades in international waters?
Given conflicting legal and humanitarian claims, could a new international mechanism resolve the standoff over aid delivery to Gaza?