At least 87 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla began a hunger strike on Tuesday in protest against what they described as their abduction by Israel and in solidarity with more than 9,500 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
In a post on X, the flotilla said that, for the second time in three weeks, the Israeli army — which it said claims to be “the most moral army” — had abducted their comrades from international waters.
It added: “In protest of their illegal abduction and in solidarity with the over 9,500 Palestinian hostages held in Israeli dungeons, at least 87 flotilla participants have committed to a hunger strike until they are released.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla called for the release of all detainees held by Israeli authorities and urged governments to condemn what it described as an act of piracy.
Late on Tuesday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that all 430 activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla had been seized and transferred to Israeli vessels.
It said: “All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli ships and are on their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet their consular representatives.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Global Sumud Flotilla crisis operations room said the Israeli army had “illegally intervened against all flotilla ships in international waters and detained the activists”.
It added that the last vessel intercepted was the Lina al-Nabulsi.
According to the statement, the flotilla consists of 50 ships carrying 428 activists from 44 countries, including 78 Turkish participants.
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