Israeli naval forces have attacked an international aid flotilla bound for besieged Gaza and abducted more than 450 activists on board, its organisers said.
According to the official tracker of the Global Sumud Flotilla, 28 ships were attacked and seized by Israeli forces, and 13 others believed to have been attacked, but it was not yet documented.
Of the four vessels still remaining, two support ships turned back, while the vessel Marinette continues sailing toward Gaza but is still far away after a late arrival due to technical malfunctions, the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza said.
A statement by the Global Sumud Flotilla said activists on the vessels were forcibly taken from their ships by the Israeli forces, describing their detention as "unlawful abduction."
More ships sail towards Gaza
It confirmed that more than 450 activists from 47 countries were transferred to Ashdod Port in southern Israel.
Meanwhile, the international organisation the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has said that 11 more ships are sailing towards Gaza to challenge a years-long Israeli blockade.
In a statement, FFC said two boats flying Italian and French flags left Otranto, Italy, on September 25, and were joined by vessel Conscience on September 30.
It said the vessels are expected to rendezvous with another 8-boat convoy, "Thousand Madleens to Gaza," within hours.
Together, the two groups will form an 11-ship convoy heading towards Gaza. According to the coalition, about 100 people are aboard the boats, off the coast of Crete.
