Protests and outrage have erupted from around the world at the Israeli assault on the Gaza Sumud Flotilla as it came within 100 nautical miles of the coast of Gaza. More than 50 vessels, carrying nationals from more than 40 countries, were involved in the Flotilla. Starting on the evening of Oct. 1 when Israel first began seizing the vessels, protests kicked off in cities around the world. These escalated into Oct. 2, and included demonstrations in Rome, Milan, Istanbul, Berlin, Brussels, London, Tunis, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogotá, and Montevideo, with reported protests also in Greece, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Uruguay, Mauritania, and many more.
Numerous governments also responded, including:
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said Israel’s capture of boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla is a “grave offense” against “global solidarity and sentiment that is aimed at relieving suffering in Gaza,” reported Al Jazeera’s live update page. Ramaphosa called on Israel to immediately release South Africans on the flotilla, including Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, the grandson of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. “South Africa calls on Israel to ensure that the life-saving cargo transported by this flotilla reaches the people of Gaza, as the flotilla represents solidarity with Gaza, not confrontation with Israel,” said President Ramaphosa.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he’d been informed that Israeli commandos had detained 23 Malaysians on board Gaza aid flotilla ships. Anwar said in a video posted on social media, that he will seek the assistance of Middle East leaders—including Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar—to secure their release. “Once again, I emphasize that the injustices perpetrated by the Israeli regime must be stopped immediately. Malaysia will not remain silent when the rights and dignity of our people are trampled upon,” Anwar said.
The U.K., Australia, and Spain all expressed “concern” over the Israeli interception of the flotilla. The U.K. Foreign Office said that the relief supplies carried by the flotilla should be turned over to humanitarian organizations for distribution in Gaza. The Australian government called on “all parties to respect international law, to ensure the safety and humane treatment of those involved.” The Spanish Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli chargé d’affaires in Madrid.
Middle East Eye’s live update page added the following:
• Spain’s Labor Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz has condemned Israel’s raid on the Gaza aid flotilla as “a crime against international law” and demanded the immediate release of those detained.
• Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, has criticized the failure of states to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, where Israel faces accusations of committing genocide and of deliberately starving civilians.
• Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s interception of dozens of Gaza-bound boats in the Sumud Flotilla, describing it as a “dastardly attack.”
• Brazil has condemned Israel after its navy intercepted a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which included several Brazilian nationals and a lawmaker.
