ISTANBUL, May 18 (Bond.az) - Organizers of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla said Monday that Israeli forces intercepted 39 of their boats in the eastern Mediterranean, while remaining ships continued sailing toward the enclave.
Israel's foreign ministry earlier stated it "will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza."
Ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail for a third time Thursday from southern Turkey, after earlier attempts were intercepted by Israel in international waters.
Live video showed military vessels approaching. "Military vessels are intercepting our fleet and forces are boarding the first of our boats," the flotilla initially said.
The group said 426 people from 39 countries were on 54 vessels. It named 44 Turks among those on intercepted boats, some 250 nautical miles from Gaza.
Turkey's foreign ministry condemned the intervention as a "new act of piracy." President Erdogan also condemned the action.
