A Swedish citizen in his 40s has been detained by the Israeli military after activist boats were stopped en route to Gaza. The Foreign Ministry confirms it is following the case. The man is being held in custody by Israel, according to UD.
Early on Thursday, Israel's military stopped about 20 boats carrying activists near Crete in the Mediterranean. The boats were heading to Gaza. The activists, including several Swedes, were then brought ashore in Greece.
According to Ekot, two people are detained. One is a Swedish man in his 40s, which the Foreign Ministry confirms to Ekot. UD states to the radio that they are aware the man “is held in custody by Israel” and that they are following the case.
The organization behind the convoy, Global Sumud Flotillas, says the man holds Swedish citizenship but resides in another EU country. Ekot reports that Israel's Foreign Ministry identifies the man as a leader of an organization with links to the terror group Hamas.