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Israeli occupation navy illegally intercepted and captured Zaytouna-Olivia boat on Wednesday evening which set to legally sail from Barcelona.
Zaytouna-Olivia did not carry aids and all of the activist on board were women from different countries, mainly Europe, with high profile careers.
It is a “symbolic” attempt to break the illegal Israeli, internationally backed siege on the Gaza Strip, which has been in place for 10 years.
The boat was illegally intercepted by the Israeli occupation navy in the international waters, about 50 nautical miles away from the Gaza Strip.
However, the Israeli occupation army claimed that “the flotilla was stopped without resistance 35 miles from the Israeli coast.”
According to a statement by the Israeli occupation army, Zaytouna captain refused to stop after it was called to do so by the Israeli navy. Therefore, the sailors from the Israeli Navy “took control of the boat before it arrived at the Gaza Strip.”
Motasem A Dalloul, Spokesperson of the Global Campaign to Break the Israeli Siege on Gaza, described the Israeli action against Zaytouna-Olivia boat a form of “piracy.”
“This Israeli piracy against the peaceful boat, which legally set to sail from Barcelona with an official attendance, is flagrant violation of the international law,” he said.
“However, the mission of the boat was carried out and the message was sent,” he added, noting that the main mission of the boat it to attract the international attention to the oppressive Israeli siege on Gaza.
The boat was sponsored by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a group of pro-Palestinian groups based mostly in Europe.
The Dutch-flagged boat was carrying 13 female activists from different countries headed by Mairead Maguire, an Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
A retired US colonel and former South African Olympic athlete were also on board, along with women from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Russia and Malaysia.
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