A vessel named Conscience of the Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, has been intercepted at sea by Israeli forces, confirmed Shahidul Alam, the renowned photographer and activist who was onboard, in a Facebook post at 10:17 am on Wednesday (Bangladesh local time).
He also claimed that he was kidnapped by the Israeli forces and urged his friends to continue supporting the freedom of Palestine.
“I am Shahidul Alam, a photographer and writer from Bangladesh. If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea and I have been kidnapped by the occupation forces of Israel, the country conducting genocide in Gaza with the active collaboration and assistance of the USA and other Western powers. I appeal to all my comrades and friends to continue fighting for the freedom of Palestine,” he wrote.
In an earlier Facebook live video, Shahidul Alam showed Israeli forces approaching their vessel, captioning it: “Istaelis approaching.”
Meanwhile, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said the Israeli military attacked its convoy and intercepted several vessels as they sailed toward Gaza, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
The FFC said the military had attacked The Conscience – a boat carrying 93 journalists, doctors and activists – before it attacked and intercepted three smaller boats on Wednesday.
Its passengers were “being held in unknown conditions”, it said.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on X that a raid on the flotilla had taken place.
“Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing,” the ministry said.
“The vessels and passengers have been transferred to an Israeli port. All passengers are safe and in good health and are expected to be deported promptly,” it added.