The interception of Gaza aid flotilla boats amounts to a violation of international law, Pretoria has said<\/p>\n
South Africa has demanded the immediate release of activists, including at least three of its nationals, detained by Israel while aboard a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
\nThe Global Sumud Flotilla left Spain a month ago with people from 44 countries aiming to challenge Israel\u2019s naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave. Late Thursday, the organizers said 42 boats were \u201cillegally intercepted\u201d and their passengers \u201cunlawfully abducted.\u201d
\nAn estimated 443 people were detained from the boats, many of whom were allegedly assaulted with water cannons by Israeli naval forces. According to South Africa\u2019s Foreign Ministry, six South Africans, including former President Nelson Mandela\u2019s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile \u2018Mandla\u2019 Mandela, were on the aid mission before the interception.
\n\u201cThe interception of the flotilla in international waters is contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown on the dozens of vessels in the flotilla,\u201d South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement.
\nHe said the action \u201calso violates an International Court of Justice (ICJ) injunction that humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow unimpeded.\u201d<\/p>\n
Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy. pic.twitter.com\/PA1ezier9s\u2014 Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 1, 2025 <\/p>\n
South Africa has long opposed Israel\u2019s military actions in Palestinian territory and has filed a case at the International Court of Justice, accusing West Jerusalem of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied the allegations. The humanitarian situation has worsened as Israeli troops advance into Gaza City in the ongoing war with Hamas. More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, and nearly the entire population has been displaced.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
The pirates of Israeli supremacy: The West\u2019s favorite rogue state has done it again<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Israel\u2019s Foreign Ministry wrote on X that the \u201cHamas-Sumud provocation yachts,\u201d referring to the Global Sumud Flotilla, attempted to \u201center an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade.\u201d
\nThe ministry said the activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, were \u201csafe and in good health\u201d and were being transferred to Israel, \u201cfrom where they will be deported to Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The interception of Gaza aid flotilla boats amounts to a violation of international law, Pretoria has said South Africa has demanded the immediate release of activists, including at least three…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19511,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t