The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country would not permit vessels to enter an active combat zone or to breach its naval blockade.
Israeli officials on Sept. 25 accused the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of about 50 boats trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, of operating under the cover of humanitarian work while serving the interests of the Hamas terrorist group and other armed groups.
At a press conference in Jerusalem, Israeli intelligence analyst Ziv Haba and Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Eden Bar Tal presented what they described as evidence tying flotilla organizers to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Hezbollah terrorist organization.
The flotilla, which set sail from Greece earlier in September, includes lawyers, lawmakers, and activists from across Europe.
Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg is among those on board.
Italy and Spain deployed navy ships to accompany their citizens after the flotilla reported drone attacks in recent days, incidents for which Israel has not taken responsibility.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sept. 25 reiterated that the ministry would not permit a breach of the naval blockade.
“Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade,“ he said. ”Israel is still ready to engage in any constructive arrangement for transferring aid in a legal and peaceful way.”
Sa’ar said the flotilla rejected an Italian proposal, accepted by Israel, to unload the aid in Cyprus for transfer to the Gaza Strip. He argued that the refusal showed that the flotilla’s real aim was provocation and serving Hamas.
The Global Sumud Flotilla activists on Sept. 25 called for a safe passage and said their “mission will continue because governments are not stopping Israel’s crimes against humanity.”
Intelligence Claims
Haba, co-founder of Israeli intelligence firm The Intel Eye, presented a report that he said was compiled using open-source analysis and proprietary de-anonymization tools.
He said investigators identified 10 administrators of the March to Gaza Greece online group, which he alleged formed part of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s coordination structure.
The flotilla was not independent but part of a wider umbrella that includes the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, known for past attempts to breach Israel’s blockade, he said.
One key figure identified, according to Haba, was Saif Abu-Kishk, described as a senior organizer linked to Hamas-affiliated entities.
“Our investigation revealed that at least seven senior figures involved in Global Sumud Flotilla network have documented a repeated link to designated terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas, but also [Palestinian Islamic Jihad], PFLP, and even Hezbollah,” Haba told reporters.
