I watched the livestream, I watched as the camera feeds lost signal, and another boat took its place on the livestream, only to lose signal again. Until no more cameras were available, and the livestream ended.

This entire ordeal happened over an entire night. As the Global Sumud flotilla boats were boarded, Israeli military personnel clearly saw boarding, apprehending the crews, and disabling the cameras.

The Thousand Madleens flotilla and the previous Global Sumud Flotilla to relieve the siege of Gaza have been attacked and boarded in international waters, with their crews kidnapped.

One of the earliest attacks against the Sumud flotilla was in Tunis, Tunisia. According to crew members aboard the boat “Alma,” sailing under the British flag, the debris of an electronic device dropped from the sky was recovered on the deck of the ship after causing fire damage. According to expert sources, the device could be an incendiary grenade wrapped in plastic and dipped in fuel.

The Global Sumud flotilla was the largest civilian flotilla formed in history. Over 40 ships, mostly small boats, crewed by activists from over 44 countries. They carried cargo such as grain, medicines, and baby formula.

Before the Sumud flotilla sailed, Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened the fleet with designating them as terrorists, and thus being able to imprison them. A threat that has no lawful basis under any international or maritime law, and yet they are not held responsible for doing this.

Almost no country defended the rights of its nationals, who were being illegally intercepted and kidnapped, and held against international law. Kidnapped crew members report that diagnosed medications were withheld, they were questioned without their legal counsel, and held in inhumane conditions.

Spain and Italy sent naval frigates to escort the flotilla, but just a few miles away, they ditched the boats and urged them to come home. In my sight, that is a clear act of sabotage.

European parliamentarians, journalists, and government officials were on board the boats. All crews record a pre-recorded video to be posted in the event of their attack and kidnapping, and all are posted on social media @thousandmadleenstogaza and @globalsumudflotilla.

These acts of injustice must be acknowledged by the UN. In the words of Palestine Deputy Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Majed Bamya, ”Is there a UN Charter for Israel that is different from the one we all have?” in response to votes not being passed, even if it's an almost unanimous vote from all member states. It is, in my opinion, the United States abusing its Security Council veto to protect Israel, such as vetoing any vote to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza. According to the UN, out of 89 veto uses, 51 have been to protect Israel.

If any national of your country was kidnapped, please follow the guidelines posted by the organizations and contact your government to force them to act against this injustice. 

Every flotilla intercepted only emboldens those who believe in the freedom of people to live. The boats will only grow in number until the siege of Gaza is broken.