31 Volunteers Injured as Israeli Forces Raid Gaza-Bound Flotilla

At least 31 humanitarian workers were injured during an Israeli military raid on the "Global Sumud Flotilla" in international waters.

Volunteers reported being detained for nearly 40 hours under brutal conditions, including physical assaults and deprivation of basic necessities, according to reports from Anadolu Agency and flotilla officials.

The convoy, which set sail for the Gaza Strip on Thursday (April 30), was intercepted approximately 600 nautical miles off the Gaza coast and 1,000 kilometers west of the Greek island of Crete.

Out of 58 vessels in the fleet, Israeli forces boarded 22, detaining roughly 175 volunteers.

While the Global Sumud Flotilla Committee condemned the raid as an act of "piracy," the Israeli Foreign Ministry defended the operation as a preemptive measure to avoid potential escalation.

Reports of Abuse and Detention
The BBC reported that 173 of the detainees have since been released on the island of Crete. However, two individuals remain in custody and have been transported to Israel for interrogation, according to the Netanyahu administration.

Released volunteers shared harrowing accounts of their time in custody.

"They kicked us, punched us, and dragged us across the floor," one volunteer stated, noting suspected fractures to his nose and ribs.

"We were kept on an Israeli vessel for 40 hours, denied sufficient food and water, and forced to sleep on wet floors."

International Casualties Reported
The Global Sumud Flotilla Committee confirmed that the injured volunteers hail from a diverse range of nations, highlighting the international scope of the mission:

Country	Number of Injured
New Zealand, Australia	4 each
Italy, United States	3 each
Canada, Netherlands, Spain, UK, Colombia, Germany	2 each
Hungary, Ukraine, France, Poland, Portugal	1 each

One injured participant holds dual Turkish-German citizenship, while officials are still working to identify three other passengers.

Mission to Break the Blockade
The humanitarian fleet began its journey from Barcelona on April 12, with the main body of the flotilla departing from Sicily on April 26.

The mission’s primary objective was to break the long-standing blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since 2007.

The raid occurs against the backdrop of a devastating conflict that began in October 2023.

Now entering its third year, the violence has resulted in over 72,000 deaths and 172,000 injuries, leaving more than two million residents in Gaza facing extreme food insecurity.