LONDON: Jordan said on Thursday it holds Israel responsible for the safety of Jordanian citizens traveling with the Global Sumud Flotilla who were detained overnight when the Israeli navy intercepted the humanitarian mission to Gaza before it reached the Palestinian territory.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs cautioned against any action that might expose Jordanians to harm.
The Israeli navy intercepted about 39 boats that were part of the flotilla 70 nautical miles from Gaza. They were carrying food and other aid supplies in an attempt to break a long-standing Israeli blockade on the Palestinian coastal territory. Dozens of activists on board the vessels were detained, including citizens of Kuwait, France, Malaysia and Sweden.
Fuad Majali, a spokesperson for Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, said it was “ready to assist in the evacuation of citizens from friendly countries upon request.” The ministry is in direct contact with Jordanian citizens detained in Israel to “ensure their safety, uphold their rights and facilitate their return to Jordan,” he added.
Jordan described the interception of the flotilla in international waters by Israeli forces on Wednesday night as “a blatant violation of international law, a threat to freedom of navigation and a serious danger to civilians’ lives.”
Majali called for all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza to be lifted, so that the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli aggression in the territory can be addressed, The Jordan News Agency reported.
