Gaza Herald- The UN human rights office urged Israel on Friday to allow life-saving aid into Gaza by all available means, stressing that international law prohibits the interception of foreign civilian vessels on the high seas, after Israeli forces seized another flotilla in international waters.
UN spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said Israel has repeatedly intercepted unarmed civilian vessels bound for Gaza in international waters, noting that the latest incident is not the first of its kind.
Thameen stressed that international law guaranteed freedom of navigation on the high seas and permitted the interception of foreign civilian vessels only in very limited circumstances.
He called on Israel to ensure that the use of force and detention conditions comply with international law and due process guarantees, including the right to contest detention, reiterating its obligations as an occupying power.
He said that, as an occupying power, Israel must ensure the delivery of food, medical supplies, and other essentials for civilian survival and facilitate the rapid and unhindered entry of impartial humanitarian aid, citing International Court of Justice orders.
Thameen urged Israel to urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving supplies by all available means.
Israeli naval forces have intercepted and seized more than 20 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of over 50 boats, detaining several activists on board. The operation took place near the Greek island of Crete, hundreds of nautical miles from Israel.
The flotilla’s first ships carrying humanitarian aid left Barcelona on April 12, followed by the main convoy departing from Sicily on April 26, as part of an attempt to break Israel’s long-standing blockade on Gaza.
Israel has maintained a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, contributing to severe humanitarian conditions for its 2.4 million residents. It also launched a major military offensive in October 2023, which has killed more than 72,000 people and caused extensive destruction across the territory.
Despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in October, Gaza has continued to face a severe humanitarian crisis.
