The Israeli authorities have ensured that, in the absence of resistance, the crews will be transferred and then expelled prolonged detention.
At 20.25, local time, the “alt” from Israel at the Global Sumud Flotilla. For the Jewish state There is no doubt: try to violate the naval blockage imposed on Gaza In war, it is equivalent to a violation of international law. The notices are clear: those who continue will be stopped and the confiscated ships. From the bridge, however, activists reiterate that Israeli messages would be nothing more than “propaganda” and relaunch the goal: “open a permanent humanitarian corridor” towards the strip. In this scenario, about twenty boats were reported near the Flotillabut their origin is not clear nor intentions. On board, the connection jumps intermittently, while the volunteers invite supporters to mobilize. “Israeli military ships have launched interception procedures in international waters,” writes on social networks Maria Elena Delia, the Italian spokesman for the movement. The deputy of the Democratic Party Arturo Scottopresent on one of the boats, tells instead of military hunting taken from Cyprus and directed towards the area: according to him, British aircraft. Scotto himself previously said on social media: «It is clear that Giorgia Meloni Use the Flotilla To make propaganda instead of talking about wages, work, pensions. We must bring the theme of humanity and the prevalence of international law back to the center. We are, of course, a little worried in these hours, but we know we have your strength, your democratic escort on the ground. We ask you to Continue to mobilize and block the country». A dangerous message that recalls the dark years of Italy.
To strengthen the picture politic-media, from the boat Alma – part of the mission – the declaration of the Swedish activist has arrived Greta Thunberg. «Currently I find myself aboard the Alma ship, as part of the peaceful humanitarian mission Global Sumud Flotilla To deliver aid to the civilian population of Gaza and break the illegal and inhuman siege imposed by Israel. It is likely that this night we will be intercepted by Israel, which would constitute a clear violation of humanitarian and maritime law, “he wrote via social media Thunberg. “Israel – he added – is not immune from international law. He must be called to answer his war crimes. Stop the genocide, stop the employment and get rid of the Palestine». His presence on the Alma further moves the case from the strictly operational to the symbolic area: a figure with enormous media resonance on board complicates the management of the episode on the diplomatic level.
The Israeli response remains firm: if there is no resistance, no arrests, only transfer of crews to military ships and subsequent expulsion from Israeli ports. Rome would have already received reassurances on the immediate repatriation of Italians. But the conditions set by Jerusalem – “absence of resistance” and “ease in identification” – do not leave margins of ambiguity: activists were asked not to throw phones and documents into the sea to avoid problems during the operations. Meanwhile, 150 miles from the coast, the Life Support of Emergency follows the story and speaks of “very serious act” in the case of arrests in international waters, inviting governments to intervene diplomatically to guarantee the security of the mission. For Israel, however, the priority remains security: the naval blockage is considered to be right, a legitimate tool in a conflict in which – underline the authorities – unauthorized passages can facilitate flows of weapons towards armed groups.
On a practical level, interception operations have already started: messages via speaker, support of military boats and distance patrols. The Israeli authorities have ensured that, in the absence of resistance, the crews will be transferred and then expelled prolonged detention. But the risk of accidents remains high: hundreds of people on dozens of boats in the open sea, the voltage that rises and the communication game between the parties can transform a night of the sea into a diplomatic accident. And when the operational dimension will go out, if you turn off, the media tail will remain: interviews, television appears and, for the most skilled in marketing causepages to write and sell and maybe a candidacy for the next elections. There Flotilla Thus a suspended operation between idealism, political challenge and propaganda is reconfirmed – a gesture that Israel interprets as a hostile act and that, in war, can only increase polarization around the Gaza crisis.
