Gaza aid flotilla says Israeli warships 'intercepted' boats

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00:00For this hour, the Israeli Navy is tonight intercepting an aid flotilla that's been attempting to break the blockade on Gaza

00:06by delivering humanitarian supplies to the besieged territory.

00:10The activists, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, are being transferred to an Israeli port.

00:17You can see those live images from a couple of the vessels just coming in to us there.

00:22In a statement a little earlier, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that several boats had been stopped,

00:28adding that Greta Thunberg and her friends were safe and healthy.

00:33The interception comes as activists complain that Israel had been using intimidation tactics against them.

00:39With the latest, here's Simon Moritz.

00:44Earlier today, it was increased drone activity.

00:48Now, the Gaza-bound Global Sumid Flotilla has been surrounded by Israeli naval vessels, according to those on board.

00:53The interception of the Global Sumid Flotilla by Israeli forces began almost an hour ago, perhaps a little longer,

01:04with a radio message ordering us to stop.

01:11The flotilla's mission is to ease suffering in Gaza, gaining attention from different corners of the world.

01:16And what the flotilla is scaring is exactly the courage to enforce international law,

01:23while all other actors responsible to enforce international law are sitting idle, looking aside,

01:30and even helping Israel enforce the blockade.

01:33One notices the desire to respond to a true humanitarian emergency,

01:39but there are so many elements there from all different places,

01:42and we are hoping that there is no violence and that people are respected.

01:46That is important.

01:48As the flotilla inches towards Gaza, Italy and Greece are calling on Israel not to hurt any of the activists aboard.

01:55Members continue to reject proposals to hand over the aid to the Catholic Church,

01:58adamant to expose Israel's naval blockade, which they consider unlawful.

02:03For more information, visit www.fema.org and visit www.fema.org and visit www.fema.org.

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