Tensions mounted in the Mediterranean on Wednesday morning, as Israeli forces intercepted three Freedom Flotilla ships.
On Wednesday morning, the international waters of the Mediterranean became the scene of a new episode of tension. The Israeli Army intercepted and boarded three ships of the Freedom Flotilla, an international humanitarian initiative with more than 40 vessels seeking to break the tight naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and deliver aid to the Palestinian population. Among the activists on board was former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, whose presence gave the operation high visibility.
The critical moment came when the flotilla was just a few nautical miles from its destination. The organization reported on social media the proximity of Israeli military vessels, a prelude to what was to come. Minutes later, they confirmed the boarding of at least three of their ships: the Alma, the Adara, and the Sirius. Colau was traveling on the latter along with ten other Spanish citizens, as well as activists of various nationalities.
Saif Abukeshek, coordinator of the Freedom Flotilla, delivered an urgent message in a live video just before communications went completely dark.
“We continue to receive updates from the rest of the ships. It's time to hit the streets. It's time to focus on Gaza. Israel is attacking and intercepting our ships. This is an attack on Gaza,” he declared, his voice choked with interference. The complaint didn't stop there: the humanitarian initiative also reported the use of water cannons by Israeli forces against some of its vessels, which at the time were just 70 miles from the Palestinian enclave. According to standard protocols in such cases, all detainees were expected to be transferred to the Israeli port of Ashdod for further deportation.
A recorded message for the worst case scenario
Anticipating the possibility of being arrested and held incommunicado, the activists had prepared messages to be broadcast in the event of a successful interception. In one of the videos, Ada Colau looks at the camera with a serious expression. “Hello, I'm Ada Colau from Barcelona. I'm speaking to you from the 'Sirius,' a ship from the Freedom Flotilla. If you're watching this video, it's because Israel has illegally detained us. That means we have no access to telephones or the internet. We're completely cut off from communication,” the former mayor explained, turning her message into a direct testimony of the military action.
On the other hand, the Israeli authorities' version was diametrically opposed. Shortly before the boarding, the army issued a radio warning, urging the boats to change course. "You are approaching a blockade zone. If you wish to deliver aid to Gaza, you may do so through established channels," the message was heard, which was later disseminated by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on its social media. For the Israeli government, the flotilla's sole purpose "is provocation," arguing that the organizers refused to use official channels for the transfer of humanitarian aid.
The flotilla's response was swift. A spokesperson responded to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) message, accusing them of committing war crimes, including using starvation as a weapon against the people of Gaza.
They argued that the blockade itself constituted a violation of international law, which justified their attempt to reach the coast of the Palestinian enclave directly.
In the final minutes of the connection, the journey became chaotic. Communications suffered severe interference, and the live broadcast documenting the trip went black several times.
The repeated outage left those following the operation from the mainland in suspense and marked the abrupt end of the peaceful voyage.