Activists on Gaza flotilla intercepted by Israel disembark in Crete

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Dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Crete disembarked on Friday in the Greek island.

Escorted by Greek coast guards, some 175 activists were taken in four buses to a town whose name was not disclosed by the authorities.

Activists will then be flown from Crete to Athens, and the Greek Foreign Ministry in coordination with embassies and consulates of countries of origin will repatriate all, authorities said.

Israel’s foreign ministry earlier said around 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 boats on Thursday. Flotilla organisers put the number at 211.

“In coordination with the Greek government, the individuals transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be disembarked on a Greek beach in the coming hours,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar wrote on X late Thursday, thanking Greece “for its willingness to receive the flotilla participants”.

“On the occasion of the Israeli operation on vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off Crete, we call for restraint and universal respect for international law, including international law of the sea and international humanitarian law,” the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday night.

Several European governments with nationals among those arrested have called on Israel to free the activists and called its action a flagrant contravention of international law.

Washington backed Israeli authorities, calling the flotilla a “stunt”.

“The United States expects all our allies … to take decisive action against this meaningless political stunt by denying port access, docking, departure and refueling to vessels participating in the flotilla,” US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

Initially made up of more than 50 boats, the flotilla’s aim, according to the organisers, was to break the blockade of Gaza and bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, whose access remains largely restricted despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in force since October.