Detainees from the Global Sumud Flotilla have started an indefinite hunger strike following Israeli naval forces’ illegal storming of their ships, according to the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza.
In a statement released Friday, the committee said that several activists who were aboard the flotilla vessels when they were intercepted in international waters “announced that they have entered an open‑ended hunger strike from the moment of their detention.”
The flotilla, which set sail to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by breaking Israel’s naval blockade, was attacked and seized by Israeli forces on Thursday.
All 44 vessels in the flotilla have now been captured, and more than 450 activists representing over 50 countries are in detention.
Israel has maintained a strict maritime and land blockade of the Gaza Strip for 18 years, citing security concerns. But as people in the strip starve and a famine recognized worldwide, activists from around the world volunteered to sail towards Gaza.
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While this was not the first time a flotilla tries to break the siege and reach starving Palestinians, it was certainly the largest flotilla.
The Gaza territory is home to almost 2.4 million Palestinians, a population that UN agencies and rights groups say is under man-made famine and starvation. Since October 2023, Israel has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, including majority of women and children.
As with previous flotillas, Israel intercepted this one as well. The last operational vessel, Polish-flagged Marinette, was also captured Friday morning.
Hunger strikes, which have historically been used by activists and political prisoners, are a non-violent way of protesting detention.
So far, Israel has not disclosed the health status of the activists, nor has it responded to any appeals made by rights’ groups and governments regarding the safety of the activists.
In many countries, people came out on streets chanting slogans in support of the detained activists, while simultaneously demanding from their governments to act.
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