Israeli abroad does not stop the flotilla and triggers a world protest: 23 ships continue the route to Gaza

There are two stories that come from the Mediterranean this morning, two opposite stories that consume on the same sea and in the same hours.

The first is made of videos of abroad, hydrants focused on civilians and activists taken away under the threat of weapons. It is the chronicle of the Assault of the Israeli Navy to 21 ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The second story, however, is a lonely dot on a map, a small boat called Mikeno who, against every forecast and together with 22 other boats, may have just made the impossible: force the naval block and be now in view of the Costa di Gaza.

This potential victory, announced by the official channel of the “Global Movement to Gaza Italia”, arrives at the height of a very high tension night. About 75 miles from the coast, the Israeli naval forces launched a large -scale operation. According to activists’ reports, it was not a simple interception. They denounced active attacks, with the “Florida” ship that would have been “deliberately rammed at sea” and other boats affected by powerful hydrants in international waters. “These illegal attacks against disarmed humanitarian ships constitute a war crime,” said the organizers.

The outcome of the night operation was the detention of hundreds of activists, including about thirty Italians and the well -known activist for the Greta Thunberg climate. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has released its image, visibly proven, communicating that “Hamas-Sumud passengers (…) are traveling healthy and saves to Israel, where expulsion procedures will begin”. Among the Italians stopped there are figures of politics and journalism, such as the MEP PD Annalisa Corrado and the deputy Arturo Scotto (both on the ‘Karm’ ship), the MEP of Europa Verde Benedetta Scuderi (on the ‘Morgana’), the journalist Saverio Tommasi and the reporter Barbara Schiavulli.

The wind is changing! The reaction of the leaders against Isreale

The global reaction to the assault was immediate and very hard. Colombia has taken the most drastic step, starting the process for the expulsion of the entire diplomatic delegation of Tel Aviv. Its president, Gustavo Petro, spoke of “a new international crime of Netanyahu”. Malaysia also used words of fire through the mouth of its premier Anwar Ibrahim: “By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown a profound contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people, but also for the consciousness of the world”. Iran defined the intervention as an “act of terrorism”, the echo of the Hamas reaction that spoke of “crime of piracy and maritime terrorism”. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that the flotilla directed to Gaza is not a “threat to Israel” and hopes that not even Netanyahu is for them: “It is a humanitarian mission that would not have taken place if Israel had allowed the entry of the aid”

A critical voice has also risen from Italy. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, intervening in the Chamber, did not use the least terms: the Palestinians “are not Hamas” and “they suffered the reaction of Israel who went well beyond the right to self -defense”. To then add: “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable, this carnage must end”.

At the same time as diplomatic indignation, the wave of social protest has exploded. A wave of spontaneous events crossed Italy in the night, from Milan to Turin, from Rome to Genoa. The epicenter of the student mobilization is the State University of Milan, which has been occupied. “As we promised, if they had touched the flotilla, we would have blocked everything,” the students wrote in a note, giving appointment to the general strike called for tomorrow throughout the country to support Palestine.

Now, the situation lives a double reality: on the one hand, hundreds of activists under military seizure directed towards a forced expulsion; on the other, the hope lit by the Mikeno and the uncertain destiny of the other 22 ships which, despite everything, continue their route. All this while from the Gaza Strip, the destination of this journey, the news of at least 11 other Palestinians, including a child, killed in Israeli raids, arrived this morning. A tragic reminder of why, despite the risks, that fleet continues to navigate.