Israel decided Monday to withhold clearance funds to the Palestinian Authority, and deducted around $200 million this month, worsening a financial crisis facing the Ramallah-based authority.
A statement from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office claimed that most of the tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority this month were deducted to settle outstanding bills.
Israel Smashes Boats and Kidnaps Flotilla Activists Near Greece "Piracy in plain sight"
by Colin Fisher, via FREE PALESTIN
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) was attacked last night by warships, drones and speedboats full of heavily-armed Israeli commandos, despite sailing just off the coast of Greece, more than 500 nautical miles from Gaza.
Of 57 boats at sea, 22 are believed to have been intercepted in the attack, which began at around 11 pm local time. 35 others escaped interception, with many sailing into Greek territorial waters.
Around 170 participants are believed to have been detained, and are likely being taken to Israel – several days sail away. Others were left stranded at sea. In a statement, GSF described their situation as “a calculated death trap”.
“After smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays, the military retreated – intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm.”
Organisers initially assumed that all intercepted participants had been detained. Many activists posted pre-recorded videos to their Instagram accounts saying they had been taken hostage. But with systems down and phones thrown overboard, it is possible some are actually adrift and unable to communicate.
In October, the IDF pirated flotilla boats and sailed them back to Ashdod – but Israeli commandos reportedly found this challenging because they got seasick and didn’t know how to sail. The journey then was only hours long; this time it could last several days.
While Israel has illegally intercepted dozens of past flotillas in international waters, the distance from Gaza and proximity to Europe this time is unprecedented, with many asking how European governments could allow it to happen.
UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese said on Instagram that the attack should send “shock waves across Europe”.
“Alarm! How on earth is [it] possible that Israel is allowed to assault and seize vessels in international waters just off Greece?”
