Activists are set to gather outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia today at 7.00pm, rallying for the protection of vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla. This protest follows what organisers describe as an Israeli interception within Cyprus’s Search and Rescue (SAR) zone.
- In a call to action, the organisers encourage the public to email Cypriot officials directly, voicing their concerns over the flotilla's safety.
- As of now, the Cypriot government has not made any public statement regarding the incidents.
The Global Sumud Flotilla Cyprus asserts that the incident occurred in international waters that fall under Cyprus’s maritime responsibility. They are urging the Cypriot government to fulfil its legal obligations to ensure the safety of civilians aboard the intercepted vessels. The situation, they claim, poses an imminent risk to those on board, necessitating a prompt response from the authorities.
In a call to action, the organisers encourage the public to email Cypriot officials directly, voicing their concerns over the flotilla’s safety.
According to video footage circulating online, Israeli navy commandos boarded one of the flotilla’s vessels earlier on Monday, following a warning from Israel for participants to change course and return immediately. The organisation reported that two Israeli warships were observed surrounding their vessels, and that contact had been lost with one ship allegedly being harassed by the Israeli military.
This interception marks the latest in a series of Israeli naval operations targeting the convoy, which embarked from Italy in April with the aim of breaking Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The flotilla consists of over 50 boats intending to deliver humanitarian aid. An earlier interception on April 30 off Crete involved Israeli forces using drones and communications jamming technology, resulting in the detention of two flotilla leaders, Palestinian activist Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila.
Israeli officials have dismissed the flotilla as a media stunt, accusing organisers of refusing to transfer their aid to Israel or international organisations for legal delivery into Gaza. The situation has drawn international attention, with Turkey condemning the earlier seizures as acts of piracy, while Spain labelled them illegal. Germany and Italy have expressed grave concern, and Amnesty International has condemned the interceptions as brazen and unlawful.
As of now, the Cypriot government has not made any public statement regarding the incidents.
