Freedom Flotilla III

Blockade of the
Gaza Strip
Crossings
2004 - 2009
2010
2011 - present
Groups involved

Freedom Flotilla III (#FF3) was a flotilla that planned to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel by sailing to Gaza. It started from Sweden on 10 May 2015 and stopped in several European cities along the way to Gaza. It started officially from Athens, Greece on 25 June 2015.[1] Few details were released in advance.[2]

On 29 June 2015 the Swedish-flagged vessel "Marianne" was intercepted by the Israeli navy[3] in international waters about 100 nautical miles from the Palestinian coast of Gaza. The Israeli military reported that no force was needed during the operation. However, eye-witness video published by Israeli Channel 2 TV shows people being tasered by IDF commandos.[4] The Marianne was boarded by Israeli forces and taken to the port of Ashdod, while the rest of the ships turned back.[5]

Organizers of the flotilla have repeatedly stated the boat was carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza. According to Israel's defense minister Moshe Yaalon "there was no aid on board". The activists supplied a picture with two boxes containing a single solar panel and a nebulizer and added that the boat was to be donated to Gazan fishermen.[6]

On 30 June 2015, Israel began releasing some detainees. Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki was deported to Paris, France, while Member of European Parliament Ana Miranda from Galicia was deported to Spain. Arab Member of the Israeli Knesset Basel Ghattas, and Israeli journalist Ohad Chamo, were released.[7] Two Canadians and a Norwegian sailor were deported on July 2.[8] A Russian journalist and six Swedish participants remained in prison until July 6.[9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference MEM-2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference JP-2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Israeli Navy Peacefully Intercepts Gaza-Bound Vessel". The New York Times. June 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "IDF violence against passangers [sic] of Ship to Gaza boat Marianne". YouTube. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Freedom Flotilla III: Marianne approaches Gaza, sailing boats return back". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. June 29, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  6. ^ "The 'humanitarian aid' aboard a recent flotilla to Gaza fit in two cardboard boxes". The Washington Post. July 1, 2015.
  7. ^ "Israel deports Tunisia ex-president after Gaza flotilla". The Times of India. June 30, 2015.
  8. ^ "Three released tomorrow (02/07), Kevorkova and all Swedes retained". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. July 3, 2015.
  9. ^ "The detained Swedes will be deported during Sunday and Monday". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. July 3, 2015.