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“However, we are very concerned about the safety of these people, including Australians.”
The organisers of the flotilla said on Wednesday afternoon, AEST, that the vessels were nearing Gaza.
“We continue to sail to Gaza approaching the 120 nautical mile mark, near the area where previous flotillas have been intercepted or attacked,” they said.
Israel has said it would use any means necessary to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza because it argues its naval blockade is a legal means to defeat Hamas, the group that launched an attack on Israel in October 2023 and is listed by Australia and others as a terrorist organisation.
While Italian vessels escorted the flotilla at some stages of the journey, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni urged the flotilla to stop and made it clear this naval support would not continue.
The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday that the Israeli Navy was expected to board the boats, detain the activists and transfer them to a single naval ship before taking them to Ashdod port and arranging their deportation.
It said some of the vessels might be towed to Ashdod, although it also cited unnamed military sources saying they expected to sink some of the boats.
Sydney content creator Abubakir Rafiq is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, headed towards Gaza. Credit: @abubakirrafiq
A video posted last week showed what appeared to be an explosion near one of the vessels, Spectre, which is carrying Sydney content creator Abubakir Rafiq.
“Last night, our boat the Spectre was hit by three drones,” Rafiq said in an Instagram video on September 24.
Tasmanian scientist Julia Henry, who said she was a “normal suburban mum” who wanted to help Gaza, is on board a Polish-flagged boat, the Huga.
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Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported on Monday that Turkish authorities rescued passengers and crew from one of the flotilla’s vessels when it issued a distress call in waters near Crete, Cyprus and Egypt.
Israeli forces seized a ship carrying Thunberg in June when it sought to break the Gaza blockade, transferring the activists to a port and detaining them for several days before deporting them.
Upon her release, Thunberg accused Israel of illegally kidnapping her and other activists because she argued they were in international waters.
Thunberg told the BBC on Sunday that the latest flotilla was not a publicity stunt but an attempt to help Palestinians in Gaza, saying Israel was breaking international law by trying to stop the activists.
“Why would they attack a peaceful humanitarian mission aiming to bring humanitarian aid to a starving population?” she said.
As the vessels approached Gaza, the Global Sumud Flotilla held an emergency press conference on YouTube soon after 8pm on Wednesday, AEST, and heard from supporters including Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Albanese said the Israeli occupation of Gaza was unlawful and this meant the flotilla was legal and should not be intercepted by the Israeli Navy.
Another speaker, New York lawyer Lamis Deek, praised the flotilla as part of a global movement to help Palestinians.
“We couldn’t be more grateful – we’re here for you, the law is on your side, the world is on your side,” she said to the flotilla organisers.
Australians are on board the dozens of ships heading to Gaza.Credit: YouTube
Deek was born in Palestine and campaigns for the “right to return” of Palestinians. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organisation, has called her public statements anti-semitic, highlighting a social media post in which she honoured Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces last October.
Canary Mission, a group that identifies people it regards as anti-semitic, has posted videos of Deek calling Hamas “global heroes” and saying: “We love Hamas. They are global agents of world peace.”
