The Israeli Navy intercepted a boat carrying women activists protesting against the country's decade-long blockade of the Gaza strip, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday. Officials said 13 activists, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, were detained on Wednesday and will be deported to their countries of origin soon.
The boat seized was part of a flotilla of two vessels carrying food and medicines, called the "women's boat to Gaza", which left for the troubled territory in September. The expedition was part of a larger movement called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that sends "pro-Palestinian boats to Gaza" from all over the world. None of the coalition's efforts have succeeded so far, and many of its members have been arrested by Israeli authorities.
Spokesperson for Israel's Interior Affairs Ministry Sabin Haddad told AFP that the process to deport two of the 13 women – both journalists – was completed, and the others will be kept at Givon Prison in central Israel for around four days before being deported. Israel's Navy said it had "redirected the sailboat" to prevent a violation of the "lawful maritime blockade".
The Gaza Strip, located between Israel and Egypt, has been a bone of contention in the Israel-Palestinian conflict for years. Israeli officials said the restrictions are required to stop the supply of arms to Hamas, an extremist Palestinian organisation. International bodies, including the World Bank and the United Nations, have come down strongly against the blockade, which they say has severely damaged the coastal enclave's economy.
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