Israel Prepares to Stop ‘Samoud’ Fleet in Mediterranean Waters
An Israeli newspaper has reported that the Israeli Navy is prepared to stop the ships of the global ‘Samoud’ fleet in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Maariv newspaper, citing an Israeli source, the fleet is moving from Turkey towards the Gaza Strip and may face military action along its route.
The report states that the purpose of this preparedness is to prevent the ships from reaching Gaza, and the Israeli Navy is ready to intercept them in international waters before they arrive at their destination.
Officials of the global ‘Samoud’ fleet announced on Sunday evening on their official X (formerly Twitter) page that they observed several unidentified vessels around the convoy. They said multiple ships and speedboats were maneuvering ahead, behind, and on one of the flanks of the fleet.
These movements were reported shortly after the organizers declared that they had entered international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. Tracking system data indicates the fleet is approximately 310 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza.
The ‘Samoud’ fleet set off on Thursday with 54 ships from Marmaris port in Turkey. The organizers have stated that their goal is to break the siege of Gaza, a blockade that has been imposed by Israel for years.
This comes after the Israeli military attacked a similar convoy in international waters near the island of Crete on April 29, an event that drew widespread international attention.
