Xinhua Agency, Gaza, October 1 (Reporter Zhao Weihong) The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) issued a statement on the evening of the 1st, condemning Israel's interception of the "Global Resilience Flotilla" conducting international rescue operations and the seizure of the people on board, calling the interception an act of piracy and a crime of terrorism.

The statement said that Israel is targeting international aid workers and journalists who are carrying out emergency humanitarian assistance. They are delivering emergency aid to the people of Gaza who have suffered two years of genocide and famine. The international community should strongly condemn Israel's actions.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 1st saying that the Israeli Navy intercepted and boarded several ships in the Mediterranean that night trying to break through Israel's maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israeli media reported that the other party was the "Global Resilience Flotilla" that delivered humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip.

Members of the "Global Resilience Flotilla" include more than 500 volunteers from more than 40 countries on board about 50 ships seeking to break Israel's maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip.

In June this year, the Israeli military forcibly intercepted the aid ship "Madrin" on its way to the Gaza Strip and dragged it to Israel, arresting and forcing the return of 12 crew members.