Israeli Navy commandos boarded the Gaza-bound protest ship Madleen overnight Sunday to Monday and arrested the 12 activists on board, who are expected to be deported from the country.
Video: The flotilla participants are being provided with food and water
The vessel, which had set sail from Europe under the Freedom Flotilla campaign, approached a restricted maritime zone off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Navy issued repeated warnings to change course and leave the area, but the crew refused to comply. According to the activists, drones sprayed them with a white substance before commandos from the Israeli Navy's elite Shayetet 13 unit boarded and took control of the vessel. The activists did not resist and raised their hands.
Earlier in the night, the activists claimed that Israeli naval vessels had surrounded the ship but withdrew shortly thereafter. An alarm sounded on board and crew members donned life jackets.
One participant wrote, "Just an update, it was apparently a false alarm. We were suddenly surrounded by lots of lights. We were encircled, possibly by vessels belonging to the Israeli oppressive forces, but if that's the case, they've since departed."
According to Israeli authorities, the Population and Immigration Authority will handle the civilian aspects of the operation and arrange for the deportation of the activists. The Israel Defense Forces' task was to take control of the vessel and navigate it safely to Israel in accordance with established procedures.
Earlier Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that he had instructed the IDF to prevent the vessel from reaching Gaza. "To the antisemitic Greta [Thunberg] and her friends, I say clearly: turn back, you will not reach Gaza," he said. "Israel will not allow anyone to breach the naval blockade. We will take every necessary measure to prevent this."
