Dutch journalist and activists detained as Israel intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla

Gijs Sanders, who works for BNNVARA, has been detained by Israeli authorities while covering the Global Sumud Flotilla. According to BNNVARA and De Marker in Instagram posts, Sanders was on board one of the vessels traveling toward Gaza to report on the mission when he was arrested. He is among three Dutch people who have been arrested by the Israeli authorities.

Cerisa van Kesteren, who is taking part in the Gaza-bound flotilla, reported that Israeli forces had begun intercepting another vessel. “Interception has started! The boat in front of us is now being targeted,” she wrote around 13:15 Dutch time. Shortly after, no further messages were received from her.

The Young European Greens later stated that Van Kesteren had been “abducted by Israel,” according to their message.

If the interception were to come close to her boat, Zefiro, Van Kesteren intended to livestream the Israeli military operation on the Instagram page of Protest Politiek, the merger of the youth wings of GroenLinks and PvdA. That did not happen. At one point, Van Kesteren had already said she would throw her phone into the water.

The Global Sumud Flotilla says none of its vessels are still heading toward Gaza. The organisation confirmed this after the final live stream from one of the boats cut out when Israeli forces boarded the ship.

“Gijs and our cameraman have been arrested and taken away by Israeli armed forces,” the Instagram post says. “It is currently unclear what Israel intends to do with them, or where they are being taken.” The flotilla is sailing toward the Palestinian territories to deliver emergency aid. Several Dutch nationals have been intercepted in recent days.

BNNVARA told the ANP that it is “closely” monitoring the situation and “in contact with the relevant authorities and involved parties.” For the broadcaster, the focus is “entirely on the safety and well-being of our colleagues.”

The Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ) is aware of the situation. General secretary Thomas Bruning told ANP that he has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “In our view, this is an unlawful arrest. He was not there as an activist, but to report,” he said. According to Bruning, “applying political pressure” is now the best option.

About 70 to 80 people were detained on Tuesday in The Hague during a demonstration outside the building for the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament. The group was protesting the detention by Israel. Police said the protesters refused to relocate to an assigned demonstration area and were therefore taken into custody.

Riot police were deployed after demonstrators refused to comply with instructions from officers. One protester attempted to break through the police line and was arrested for resisting arrest. The group was then put onto buses and taken to an undisclosed location. Among those present were also the parents of one of the intercepted participants from the flotilla.

Around 70 vessels took part in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian supplies, including medicine and food, to the Palestinian territory. The flotilla carried about 1,000 participants from more than 70 countries, including six Dutch citizens.

Two boats turned back voluntarily, while the remaining vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces and their passengers taken into custody.