Iran Raps Israeli Interception of Gaza Aid Boat as Piracy
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson condemned the Israeli regime’s move to intercept the Madleen Gaza-bound aid ship and detain its crew as an act of piracy.
Speaking at a weekly press conference on Monday, Esmaeil Baqaei said the Zionist regime has literally hijacked the Gaza-bound aid ship in international waters.
The Israeli raid on the Madleen ship is tantamount to an act of piracy under international law, he said.
The Iranian spokesman denounced the Zionist regime’s “criminal action” against the aid boat, whose purpose he said was to stop the Israeli genocidal atrocities in Gaza.
He noted that the recent developments highlight the responsibility of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the UN Security Council and the need for them to take immediate action to lift the blockade on Gaza.
There is no excuse for international organizations’ failure to halt the Israeli crimes, Baqaei added.
The Israeli forces on Monday raided and seized the Madleen charity boat that was attempting to breach Gaza’s naval blockade. It was carrying 12 crew including activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
The Madleen departed from Italy on June 1 to bring awareness to food shortages in Gaza, which the United Nations has referred to as the "hungriest place on Earth", with the entire population at risk of famine.
