Gaza flotilla vessels fail to defy Israeli blockade
All the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) vessels have failed to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, according to the country, as reported by Middle East Eye via AFP on October 2nd.
Israeli announced that none of the aid flotilla ships have breached its illegal maritime blockade on the Palestinian territory. In their statement, the Israeli foreign ministry linked the humanitarian mission to Hamas, reaffirmed the lawfulness of their naval blockade on Gaza and mocked the “provocation yachts” for their unsuccessful bid “to enter an active combat zone”.
Gazan Palestinians have been living under a 17-year-long Israeli blockade on the territory’s “air, land and sea” which has been deemed illegal under international law.
Israel has blocked food and medical aid from entering the enclave since March 2025, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) was heading towards Gaza to transport vital supplies to the warn-torn territory. The country has controlled aid efforts and pipelines since they cut off aid earlier this year, but their aid systems have caused chaos and their armed forced have brutally killed hundreds of Palestinians who were trying to collect aid at distribution points.
On October 2nd, the Mikeno vessel was observed approaching the Gazan coastline, however, it lost all communication with organisers at the time of at 08:21 UTC.
The Marinette vessel has been in contact with the GSF organisers and is currently sailing towards the Palestinian territory. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has acknowledged that there’s one vessel left heading towards the enclave, and has clarified that they will obstruct its attempt to breach the blockade to conduct a humanitarian mission.
This is not the first maritime attempt of a peaceful humanitarian movement to break the siege on Gaza, as the Freedom flotilla has previously tried to defy the Israeli blockade in June, with famous Swedish activist Greta Thunberg onboard the vessel. However, this was also intercepted by Israeli authorities.
Middle East Eye via AFP, Maghrebi.org
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