Seizure of Vessels Belonging to the Global Steadfastness Flotilla Constitutes a War Crime Requiring a Unified International Response

Seizure of Vessels Belonging to the Global Steadfastness Flotilla Constitutes a War Crime Requiring a Unified International Response

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces' interception and seizure of vessels belonging to the Global Steadfastness Flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip in international waters, as well as the unlawful detention of participants from various countries around the world who were carrying humanitarian aid. This constitutes yet another crime aimed at concealing Israel's ongoing crimes of genocide, starvation, and the siege imposed on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

The Ministry considers this assault to be a fully-fledged act of piracy and a grave violation of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as a serious breach of international humanitarian law and human rights principles. The attack specifically targeted a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative, once again reflecting the occupation's policy of using force, collective punishment, and continued impunity, enabling it to act as an entity above the law without deterrence.

The Ministry further stresses that the continuation of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip aims to obstruct any genuine political horizon and opportunities for peace, including undermining progress toward the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, which is based on Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, while deepening the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the Palestinian people.

The Ministry also expresses its profound concern regarding the fate and safety of the detained activists and holds Israel, as the occupying power, fully responsible for their lives and security, particularly in light of reports indicating the use of force, attacks on ships and boats with weapons, disruption of distress calls, and obstruction of vessels at sea under dangerous conditions.

The Ministry reaffirms that Israel has no sovereignty over the land, sea, or airspace of the State of Palestine, and that attempts by the occupation to impose control by force over maritime routes and humanitarian assistance constitute a flagrant violation of international law and an assault on the international popular will standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The Ministry calls upon the international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights and humanitarian organizations, to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities by collectively confronting this crime, imposing immediate deterrent legal sanctions on Israel and its naval forces for committing crimes in international waters, exerting urgent pressure to end the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, ensuring the immediate release of the activists, and providing international protection for humanitarian missions.

The Ministry also salutes all participants and international supporters of the Global Steadfastness Flotilla and highly values their courage and noble humanitarian positions, affirming that their message will remain a source of appreciation and pride for the Palestinian people.