Protests erupt in major cities after interception of Global Sumud Flotilla

Supporters of the Global Sumud Flotilla took to the streets in several major cities including in Rome; Istanbul; Athens, Greece; and Buenos Aires, Argentina after reports emerged that multiple vessels attempting to break the Gaza blockade were intercepted.

Demonstrators expressed outrage over the incident and called for the immediate release of detained activists and an end to Israel’s siege on Gaza.

In the northern Italian city of Bologna, dozens of protesters and university students scuffled with police outside the city's central train station. Police in riot gear used batons to push back the protesters who were trying to occupy the train station and chanting “Free Palestine” and “Shame on you”. Italy’s largest union called for a one-day general strike on Friday.

The flotilla, which started out with more than 40 boats and nearly 450 activists, was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Its main goal, they said, remained "to break Israel’s illegal siege and end the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people."

The organizers of the flotilla said at least 39 of their boats were intercepted or assumed intercepted in a nightlong Israeli operation. Israeli authorities later said only one boat remained “at a distance” and would be intercepted if it approached.

The flotilla has streamed its voyage online via live cameras aboard different boats, though connections were lost as Israeli authorities began boarding them in international waters on Wednesday evening.