The organizers of the pro-Palestinian flotilla, which hoped to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, said Israel attacked them with "flash bombs, explosive flares and possibly chemical agents" as they approached the war-torn Palestinian territory, DPA reported, BTA reported.
"Israeli occupation forces have launched at least 11 attacks on the "Global Sumud" flotilla while it is 600 nautical miles (1,100 kilometers) from Gaza," the CODEPINK organization said in a post on social media. "Israel is threatening and terrorizing aid workers carrying humanitarian aid in international waters. Demand safe passage for the flotilla. End the blockade of Gaza immediately," the group said in a statement.
The flotilla posted a video on social media showing what it said were "flash grenades ... a non-lethal explosive device used primarily by police or the military. It is designed to temporarily incapacitate people without causing permanent injury, making it useful in crowd control or hostage rescue operations."
Activists said "explosive flares" were used against the boats. and "suspected chemicals", as well as "unidentified drones and communications jammers".
"We are currently witnessing these psychological operations, but we will not be intimidated," the flotilla said in a post on "Telegram".
The "Global Sumud" flotilla, which set sail from Barcelona late last month with hundreds of activists on board, aims to break through the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid to the population of the Palestinian territory.
"Sumud" means steadfast in Arabic.