The Turkish delegation to the Gaza-bound Sumud Global Flotilla told Anadolu today that Israeli forces have arrested 18 Turkish nationals after stopping the flotilla in international waters more than 600 nautical miles from Gaza, several miles from Greek territorial waters.

Israeli forces surrounded the ships off the coast of the Greek island of Crete late Wednesday and conducted raids, arresting more than 170. activists on board, the Turkish delegation told Anadolu.

The arrested Turkish nationals and their ships are as follows: Mustafa Enes Topal, Muhammed Ozdem, Ali Deniz, Yunus Kava, Sahin Yaslik, Mustafa Arslan, Abdulselam Demir, Nevzat Oylek, Nevzat Guzel, Halil Erdogmus, Abdullatif Fasli, Huseyin Suayb Ordu, Mahmut Akay, Gorkem Duru, Mehmet Atli, Mukremin Kose, Ramazan Tekdemir and Mahmut Cagatay Yavuz.

The Israeli navy intercepted the flotilla ships late Wednesday as they headed towards Gaza to break the long-standing blockade on the enclave.

The group said Israeli forces surrounded the convoy in international waters near the Greek island of Crete, blocked communications and seized 21 vessels, adding that 17 vessels managed to escape and enter Greek waters after incident.

The flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza aims to break Israel’s blockade and open a humanitarian corridor from the sea. The move came hours after Jewish media reported that Israel was preparing to cut off the flotilla, which includes about 100 ships in total carrying nearly 1,000 activists from several countries.

Israel has imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving an estimated 1.5 million Palestinians of an estimated 2.4 million homeless after their homes were destroyed during war.

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Source: prizrenpost