A boat carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and 39 others vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla—an initiative attempting to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza—was boarded by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in international waters on October 1, around 70 nautical miles (130 km) off the coast of Gaza.
Reports indicate that the IDF used water cannons during the operation. According to the Israeli foreign minister, those seized from the vessels are being taken to Israel before deportation to Europe. Currently, five other boats from the Flotilla continue sailing toward Gaza.
The seizure, c
arried out in international waters and therefore considered illegal under international law, has drawn widespread condemnation.
The civil action by the Global Sumud Flotilla is trying to bring much-needed aid to the Gaza Strip, where, according to the UN, a genocide is happening.
Back in October 2023, the attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israeli soldiers and civilians shocked the world. And so, too, has the Israeli response. Sadly, this latest conflict represents yet another tragic episode in the long and bitter feud between Arabs and Israelis. But what are the origins of this seemingly endless hostility that's killed thousands of people and displaced millions?
Click through for a better understanding of the current Israel-Hamas conflict.