The continuation of genocide and the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) unleashed a political turmoil and protests without borders. Achieving the freedom of the kidnapped activists is the immediate task, at the same time as continuing to mobilize together with the Palestinian people, against genocide and Zionist barbarism.

By Ruben Tzanoff

The GSF’s mission and interception are significant events

In the early morning of October 1 and 2, the Israeli navy intercepted, boarded and detained 473 activists who were transferred to a prison in the Saharonim Desert. At 11.50am on Friday, October 3, the Israeli authorities announced on social networks that they have begun with the deportations, with four Italian activist parliamentarians.

In the morning, the “Marinette”, the last ship that was still sailing to Gaza, was intercepted.

The intervention on sea of the fascist state’s naval forces on civilians in the humanitarian mission of the GSF has placed the issue on the stage of world politics and triggered a gale of repercussions and street protests.

Those who are kidnapped are not okay

Although Israel is trying to show that it treats activists wonderfully well, that’s far from the truth. They have been kidnapped and still being harassed. The “visit” of the Minister of Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to the port of Ashdod to confront the activists whom he accused of being “terrorists” and “defenders of murderers” is a clear example of it. He also shared a video touring the interior of a ship declaring that he saw no signs of humanitarian aid but of “a big party.”

The latest Press Release of the GSF has debunked the miserable lies of the Zionist minister: “The boats were thoroughly documented; they were carrying medical supplies, food and other essential items for the population of Gaza… The supplies we carried were both real and representative: real because they were urgently needed, and representative because civilian ships cannot carry the full scale of aid Gaza requires, which only becomes possible once the blockade is lifted.”

What are Israel’s next steps?

The next steps, according to official statements and diplomatic sources, would be to continue with interrogations and deportations on charter flights to Madrid and London. It is not clear if activists will be expulsed to their countries. Those who do not accept “voluntary” deportation would be imprisoned in Israel.

All the measures adopted are authoritarian, they seek to show the strength of the State of Israel, to discipline the flotilla and to discipline international solidarity, to discourage new missions.

Misrepresentations and lies, usual Zionism

The Israeli state narrative articulates several justifying elements. For example, that the GSF entered a “high-risk” or “combat zone” zone, so the intervention was “legal“ and ”necessary” for security. That could be infiltrated with weapons or hostile people. And that any “legitimate” aid must transit through corridors that Israel authorizes and controls, not through independent initiatives.

These are arguments that seek to naturalize State violence under the concept of “security” and depoliticize the facts to turn their illegality into a mere administrative procedure.

Zionism bears a firebrand: first it acts violently, then it misrepresents the facts and lies in order to justify its crimes and remain unpunished.

Rights violations in the maritime repressive operation

In Palestine, Israel makes the violation of human and democratic rights a daily practice that does not alter at sea.

By using military boarding tactics to detain and transfer civilians in international waters, he exposed them to serious physical and psychological risks with disproportionate use of force. With the summary detentions, the incommunicado detention, the transfers to internment centers and express procedures – under pressure and without legal advice – he ignored basic procedural rights. Everything is taking place within the framework of the international finger-pointing for an ongoing genocide.

Israel is synonymous with the violation of rights in all fields.

International political implications

The interception to the GSF provoked a diverse global reaction. Some states or parliaments that have citizens among the detainees have called for consultations, demanded explanations or formally protested. There are European governments that ask for respect for the right of navigation, consular guarantees, and warned with possible sanctions.

Despite its limitations, repercussions are significant, they isolate Netanyahu and therefore erode the regime. This critical repositioning has an explanation, not humanitarianism of governments bu the disagreement and the strength of popular and social demands.

Turmoil of mobilizations, strikes and actions

The protests, which have been growing since the beginning of the Israeli offensive for the total occupation of Gaza, grew during the course of the GSF mission and with its arrest.

In the Spanish State there were mass demonstrations in Barcelona, Madrid and concentrations in other cities; camping and traffic cuts, student actions and symbolic occupations. Movements and unions called for maintaining political pressure with actions planned for the coming days.

In Paris, France, there were mass protests that were replicated in different cities. In Berlin and other cities of Germany, the marches and rallies were massive. In Italy there were calls for a general strike and mass mobilizations.

In the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil and other countries on all continents, similar events have taken place that are staining the streets with the colors of the Palestinian flag in the hands of thousands of young people, women, workers and students.

And the mobilizations, strikes and actions, which continue for the second consecutive day, are key to support a besieged people that they have not managed to break.

Even media have reported on the navigation of a new flotilla transporting food and medicine, composed of a dozen vessels that set sail on September 27 from Catania, Sicily; as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).

For the freedom of the flotilla and together with the Palestinian people

When they attacked the flotilla, they attacked all of us. Let’s demand the immediate freedom of the kidnapped comrades! Let us continue to respond to the call of the Palestinian people for a ceasefire, to put a stop genocide, ethnic cleansing, the blockade on humanitarian aid and the occupation! Let’s promote mobilizations, strikes and all kinds of actions so that the governments break relations with Israel! On the path of the struggle to achieve a just and lasting peace, together with the peoples of the Middle East, with a Free and Socialist Palestine from the river to the sea.

They will never be able to silence solidarity with Palestine

The mission of the flotilla will close its final chapter with the arrival of each activist at home, which is why, as we have already stated, we are still in the fight for their release. However, there are preliminary considerations about the mission that lead us to give more strength to the demand that they be released right now.

From the fact that there is still a people that they have not been able to subdue and the dramatic fact of the planned famine as a tool, paradoxically, a positive circle was energized: the global mobilization gave rise to the humanitarian initiative of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which, in turn, fed the continuity and deepening of the global mobilization to stop the genocide and break the blockade on humanitarian aid.

The flotilla was forcibly prevented from delivering food and medicine to Gaza, which, beyond the hope of arriving, was the most likely scenario. However, this does not cancel the validity of the mission by any means, because he tried to respond as best he could to the call of the Palestinian people and responded decisively with another of their pleas: “denounce the genocide.” And so they did. All the activists. Every minute on land and at sea. And so they will continue to do so with more force than before. They starred in a feat that raises the value of being in solidarity and fighting, literally against all odds, to stop barbarism.

Therefore, we cannot fail to express that we are proud of the internationalist militancy of the International Socialist League (ISL) and the MST of Argentina, by their participation in the GSF and the militant effort of our comrade Cele Fierro, who was on board the schooner “Adara” and whom we hope to hug soon. And we appreciate all comrades who participated of this risky activity in order to try to break the blockade.