| Blockade of the Gaza Strip |
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Freedom Flotilla III (#FF3) was aflotilla that planned to break theblockade of theGaza Strip byIsrael by sailing to Gaza. It started fromSweden on 10 May 2015 and stopped in several European cities along the way to Gaza. It started officially fromAthens,Greece on 25 June 2015.[1] Few details were released in advance.[2]
On 29 June 2015 the Swedish-flagged vessel "Marianne" was intercepted by the Israeli navy[3] in international waters about 100 nautical miles from the Palestinian coast ofGaza. The Israeli military reported that no force was needed during the operation. However, eye-witness video published by IsraeliChannel 2 TV shows people being tasered byIDF commandos.[4] TheMarianne was boarded by Israeli forces and taken to theport of Ashdod, while the rest of the ships turned back.[5]
Organizers of the flotilla have repeatedly stated the boat was carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza. According to Israel's defense ministerMoshe Yaalon "there was no aid on board". The activists supplied a picture with two boxes containing a singlesolar panel and anebulizer and added that the boat was to be donated to Gazan fishermen.[6]
On 30 June 2015, Israel began releasing some detainees. Former Tunisian PresidentMoncef Marzouki was deported toParis, France, while Member of European ParliamentAna Miranda fromGalicia was deported toSpain.Arab Member of the IsraeliKnessetBasel Ghattas, and Israeli journalistOhad Chamo, were released.[7] Two Canadians and a Norwegian sailor were deported on July 2.[8] A Russian journalist and six Swedish participants remained in prison until July 6.[9]
Israel's stated plan was to "welcome" the flotilla participants and hand them letters with a message from the Prime Minister's Office: "Perhaps you meant to sail somewhere else nearby – Syria, where Assad's regime is massacring his people every day, with the support of the murderous Iranian regime."[10]
UN-ESCWA: The UN Undersecretary-General and Executive Secretary of UN-ESCWARima Khalaf issued a statement condemning Israel's detention of former Tunisian presidentMoncef Marzouki. Khalaf concluded "What president Marzouki and his companions did is a practice of a right and a response to the call of conscience to lift the injustice and suffering of 1.8 million civilians under siege in Gaza. What Israel did is aggression and offence".[11]
ISESCO: ISESCO condemned seizure of Freedom Flotilla Gaza 3 vessel carrying humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza Strip. It called on the international community to put pressure on the Zionist regime to promptly release all people on board and guarantee their safety includingMoncef Marzouki.[12]
Tunisia: Tunisia condemned the interception by the Israel Defense Forces of one of the vessels of the Freedom III flotilla and the PresidentMoncef Marzouki. Tunisia called on Israel, in a Foreign Ministry statement, to immediately release all participants in the flotilla, holding the Israeli occupation responsible for their safety and that of PresidentMoncef Marzouki.[13]
Qatar: The State of Qatar strongly condemned the Israel Defense Forces' interception of Freedom Flotilla III heading to Gaza and the detention of former Tunisian PresidentMoncef Marzouki. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the officials are following with concern the development of the situation in the Gaza Strip, the continuation of the Israeli violations and cutting off humanitarian supplies for Gaza's population, calling for quickly release of Marzouki and the rest of the participants. The statement called on the international community to take immediate action to stop the Israeli abuse and lift the siege on the Gaza Strip.[14]
Sweden: The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Israel for its intervention on the Swedish leader vessel, Marianne, in international waters during its participation in the Third Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The statement asked Israel to lift the blockade in Gaza immediately.[15]This is not a complete list.[23]
The following ships participated in the flotilla:
Marianne
RachelVittorioJuliano II
