Turkey today accused Israel of engaging in an “act of piracy” by hijacking vessels of a new international flotilla for Gaza off Palestinian territory.

“The intervention in international waters against the Freedom Flotilla, which sought to break the illegal and inhumane siege imposed on Gaza, is an act of piracy,” the Turkish foreign ministry denounced, clarifying that Turkish MPs have been arrested by the Israeli military.

The “genocidal” Israeli government is targeting all peaceful measures and increasing tensions in the region while damaging peace efforts, according to the Turkish ministry.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry statement added that every initiative has been taken to release and return to Turkey the Turkish citizens detained by Israel and that there is coordination with other countries for their own citizens.

Lawyers for 27 French citizens call for their release

Lawyers for 27 French citizens aboard the ships of the international flotilla bound for Gaza that was intercepted this morning by the Israeli army have issued a statement calling for their immediate release.

“The 27 French citizens who were on board these humanitarian convoys were arbitrarily arrested by the armed forces of the Israeli occupation and, until now, are being illegally detained by the State of Israel,” Nino Arnaud, Elsa Marcel, Adrienne Mawash and Sara Samer said in their statement.

The lawyers are calling for “the effective consular and diplomatic protection owed to them by the French state,” the “immediate release” of those “arbitrarily detained by the Israeli state and their return to France,” as well as “the prosecution and punishment of the illegal actions of the State of Israel.”

At the same time, in their statement, they express concern “about the serious risk of abuse” of their clients, adding that it has now been proven that activists have been the victims of threats, physical violence and humiliation.

They also consider that these actions “constitute a violation of binding rules of international humanitarian law and international maritime law, and violate the most basic human rights of imprisoned citizens.”

“Around ten Italians in temporary custody,” said Tajani

“The Italian embassy and our consulate in Tel Aviv have been following since dawn the interception of the new flotilla by the Israeli Navy: the Italians under temporary detention are about ten,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote in a post on X.

“They are going to be provided with all the necessary consular assistance, with a request to the Israeli government to guarantee respect for individual rights until the moment of deportation,” the Italian minister added.

The whole case is also being monitored by the crisis management unit of the Rome Foreign Ministry.