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An activist aboard the Gaza-bound aid vessel "Madleen" said Israel has begun implementing an internet blackout as the ship approaches Gaza waters carrying humanitarian supplies.
Yasemin Acar, press coordinator for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and human rights activist aboard the vessel, told Anadolu Agency that their land-based team informed them "the internet blackout directed at us has officially begun."
"We can see this through interruptions in our connection, because it has slowed down a lot," Acar said, referring to Israeli naval reports that ships had been sent to intercept the Madleen vessel.
Acar said they are currently 160 nautical miles from Gaza in international waters heading toward Gaza territory, with the risk that their contact with the world could be cut off at any moment.
"The next 24 hours are very critical," Acar said, noting the 12-person crew has been sailing for 8 days to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip residents under Israeli attacks.
She said they plan to reach Gaza tomorrow morning if there is no Israeli intervention, adding that Israel has not yet contacted the humanitarian aid ship directly or indirectly.
Regarding possible Israeli naval intervention against the vessel carrying aid to Gaza residents, Acar said, "We are in international waters heading toward Gaza territory.
If something happens to us, that is, if Israeli forces use violence against a humanitarian mission carrying aid, this would be another war crime because we are not in their territory."
Acar emphasized Israel has previously targeted ships aimed at breaking the Gaza blockade and delivering humanitarian aid, recalling the 2010 attack on the Mavi Marmara in international waters that killed 10 people and the drone attack on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's Conscience ship off Malta on May 2.
The 2010 Mavi Marmara incident occurred when six international NGOs - IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Free Gaza Movement, European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, Ship to Gaza (Greece), Ship to Gaza (Sweden), and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza—organized an aid flotilla to transport 6,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Gaza Freedom Flotilla comprised the Mavi Marmara, Sfendoni, Challenger I, Eleftheri Mesogios, Gazza I and Defne Y vessels, carrying 750 aid workers and supporters from 36 countries, including over 15 members of parliament, more than 60 international press members, artists, and Nobel Prize-winning aid workers.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli military forces conducted what organizers described as an illegal raid on the flotilla in international waters. Ten humanitarian aid workers lost their lives and 56 were severely injured during the attack. Nine were killed during the raid, and the tenth victim died after spending a prolonged period in a coma.
Participants were illegally imprisoned and subjected to what organizers described as ill-treatment, with some injured imprisoned in cells and subjected to interrogation while their personal belongings were confiscated.
The activist said the crew's morale remains high, describing the Madleen ship as "just a small part of a global uprising against Israel."
"We are not carrying weapons. We are not seeking violence. Our only wish is that the world does not remain silent on this issue," Acar said.
She emphasized that their goals are "lifting the illegal blockade imposed on Gaza and delivering the humanitarian aid they carry to the Palestinian people struggling with hunger."
Pointing to the lack of international response to Israel's attacks and blockade on Gaza, Acar said they aim to do "what politicians should do for Gaza" with the Madleen vessel.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced he had instructed the Israeli army to do "whatever is necessary" to prevent the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's Madleen vessel from reaching Gaza shores.
"I have instructed the Israeli army to do whatever is necessary to prevent the Madleen hate flotilla from reaching Gaza. I say clearly to antisemitic Greta and Hamas propaganda spokespeople: Turn back, because you will not reach Gaza," Katz said.
The 18-meter Madleen sailing vessel left San Giovanni Li Cuti Port in Catania on June 1 as part of the latest mission organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition civil society organization to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver aid to the region.
The vessel carries 12 people, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, and is currently proceeding through Egyptian waters.
Israeli Army Spokesperson Effie Defrin said in a press statement that they were preparing to act against the ship carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza who are struggling with hunger under Israeli attacks.
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