Twenty-two Italians have been captured during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla mission, which was heading towards the Gaza Strip with the aim of breaking the naval blockade imposed by Israel. Among them is also cinematographer Luca Gennari, a colleague and friend to many of us at CCS, involved in the expedition alongside activists, humanitarian workers and a journalist.
The group is currently being transferred to the Israeli port of Port of Ashdod, where arrival is expected in around two days, after being stopped at sea by military units. As reported today by the newspaper la Repubblica, footage released before the capture conveys the tension of those final moments: ‘They’re intercepting us. They’re on us. They’re approaching with a dinghy. They’re about to take us,’ one can be heard saying in one of the last videos recorded on board.
The Italian group brings together a wide range of profiles: Antonio La Piccirella, on his third expedition, activists from social centres in various Italian cities, operators involved in civilian rescue in the Mediterranean, and participants on their first field experience. Among them is also Andrea Sceresini, a contributor to the newspaper Il Manifesto. The diversity of the group — which also includes dual nationals and members of networks that have long been active in pro-Palestinian advocacy — reflects the collective and cross-cutting nature of the initiative, in line with previous civilian missions towards Gaza.
