The Turkish delegation at the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla on Thursday told Anadolu that Israeli forces have detained 20 Turkish nationals after intercepting the fleet in international waters more than 600 nautical miles from Gaza, a few miles off Greek territorial waters.
Israeli forces surrounded the boats off the coast of the Greek island of Crete late on Wednesday and carried out a raid, detaining more than 170 activists on board, the Turkish delegation told Anadolu.
The detained Turkish nationals are as follows: Mustafa Enes Topal, Muhammed Ozdem, Ali Deniz, Yunus Kava, Sahin Yaslik, Mustafa Arslan, Abdulselam Demir, Nevzat Oylek, Nevzat Guzel, Halil Erdogmus, Abdullatif Fasli, Huseyin Suayb Ordu, Mahmut Akay, Gorkem Duru, Mehmet Atli, Mukremin Kose, Ramazan Tekdemir, Mahmut Cagatay Yavuz, Huseyin Oral, and Omer Osman Tastan.
The Israeli navy intercepted vessels from the flotilla late on Wednesday as they headed towards Gaza to break a longstanding blockade on the enclave.
The group said Israeli forces surrounded the convoy in international waters near the Greek island of Crete, jammed communications, and seized 21 vessels, adding that 17 vessels managed to escape and enter Greek waters following the incident.
