UN condemns Israel’s detention of Gaza Flotilla activists, cites Maritime Law breach
Global Sumud Flotilla activists: UN demands humane treatment from Israel.
Image: AFP
The United Nations (UN) has called on Israel to respect international maritime law and ensure the safety and dignity of activists detained after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) bound for Gaza.
Speaking in New York, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said: "We believe the laws applying to international waters must be respected."
The UN emphasised the need to prioritise the protection of civilians aboard the vessels. "Our priority is avoiding harm to who were aboard the vessels, and we hope that they will be treated fairly and with respect for their rights and dignity," said Haq.
He also underlined the importance of allowing humanitarian missions to reach Gaza without obstruction.
"Our belief is that people who are carrying humanitarian aid should be left alone."
In a post on social media, the Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the characterisation of the flotilla as a humanitarian mission, alleging it had ties to Hamas and carried no meaningful aid.
"Israel Police are looking for the humanitarian aid from the Hamas-Sumud provocation so it can be transferred peacefully to Gaza. The only problem: so far, they haven't found much. Like we said, it was never about the aid. It was always about the provocation," the ministry posted.
The UN stressed that humanitarian principles and international law must be upheld, particularly amid what it described as urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.
Adalah, a human rights organisation and legal centre in Israel, has condemned the detention of participants in the flotilla.
According to Adalah, participants have reported that immigration authorities at the Ashdod port have already begun conducting hearings on deportation and detention orders.
"These proceedings were initiated without prior notice to their lawyers and while denying participants access to legal counsel," Adalah said in a statement. "This constitutes a grave violation of due process and a denial of the participants’ fundamental rights."
Participants allege that they were taken into custody without warning, and that legal representation was systematically blocked during initial hearings.
Adalah reiterated its concerns, warning that the treatment of detainees represents a serious breach of international law.
"These proceedings were initiated without prior notice to their lawyers and while denying participants access to legal counsel. This constitutes a grave violation of due process and a denial of the participants' fundamental rights," the group said.
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