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Global Condemnation Erupts Over Israel’s Seizure of Gaza Aid Flotilla

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Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at global responses to Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, the Czech Republic’s parliamentary election, and unidentified drones over Germany.

Israeli forces on Friday boarded the final vessel in a 44-ship humanitarian aid flotilla that was trying to deliver vital supplies to Gaza. Capturing the Polish-flagged Marinette marked the end of a tense two-day naval operation by Israel to stop hundreds of activists from attempting to break through its blockade of the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, all 461 detained activists with the Global Sumud Flotilla are “safe and in good health” and are preparing to be deported.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at global responses to Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, the Czech Republic’s parliamentary election, and unidentified drones over Germany.

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Israeli forces on Friday boarded the final vessel in a 44-ship humanitarian aid flotilla that was trying to deliver vital supplies to Gaza. Capturing the Polish-flagged Marinette marked the end of a tense two-day naval operation by Israel to stop hundreds of activists from attempting to break through its blockade of the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, all 461 detained activists with the Global Sumud Flotilla are “safe and in good health” and are preparing to be deported.

Although Israel maintains that the volunteers were trying to “breach a lawful naval blockade,” foreign governments and rights activists have condemned the country for endangering civilian lives in Gaza by preventing aid from entering the war-torn territory. “This barbarity must end,” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. “Peace must be given a chance, and humanitarian aid must reach those in need.”

People from at least 44 countries participated in the flotilla. In light of Israel’s actions, Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled Israeli diplomats from Bogotá and canceled the two nations’ free trade agreement; Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the intervention as an “act of terrorism” that violates international law; and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa demanded that “the life-saving cargo transported by this flotilla reaches the people of Gaza,” adding that the fleet “represents........

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