Hope blocked at sea: Israel detains nearly 500 activists from the Al-Sumud Flotilla

According to Al Jazeera, the newspaper Israel Hayom confirmed the transfer of these individuals to the mentioned prison and added that they are expected to be deported by air from Israel at the beginning of this week.

Meanwhile, Israel’s state broadcaster reported that the navy has recently taken control of the Marinet, the last ship of the “Persistence” (Al-Sumud) flotilla. Activists aboard the Marinet, which was sailing as part of efforts to break the Gaza blockade alongside the flotilla, said that an Israeli warship blocked their path.

On Thursday evening, the “Al-Sumud Fleet” announced on social media that the Marinet was continuing its course toward the Gaza Strip, despite the fact that all other flotilla ships had already been seized.

An Al Jazeera correspondent reported that the Marinet, carrying six activists from various countries, reached a point 54 nautical miles (about 100 kilometers) from Gaza — about 20 miles further than the location where the first flotilla ships were seized.

On Thursday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry warned: “If the ship approaches, its attempt to enter the active war zone and break the blockade will also be thwarted.”

Separately, the International Committee to Break the Gaza Siege reported that a number of people detained during the flotilla’s seizure have begun an indefinite hunger strike to protest their situation. The committee confirmed that several detainees launched the strike immediately upon arrest and would continue for an unspecified duration.

Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth also reported that Israeli authorities have decided to begin the deportation process for the flotilla activists.

Meanwhile, other ships continue their course toward Gaza, with some now less than 55 nautical miles from the coast. Reports suggest that nine ships of the Global Al-Sumud Fleet remain about 470 nautical miles from Gaza and are still advancing.

The Global Al-Sumud Fleet, consisting of nearly 50 ships, embarked from the coast of Greece in the largest collective effort to date to break the 18-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. More than 500 activists from 40 countries joined the flotilla as part of a coalition including the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Gaza Movement, and the Persistence Fleet.

This marks the first time such a large number of ships have sailed together toward the Gaza Strip, home to roughly 2.2 million Palestinians. Israel has imposed a blockade on the enclave for 18 years, tightening restrictions in recent months.

The flotilla came under Israeli military attack starting Wednesday evening.