LONDON

The British Foreign Office on Thursday called on Israel to ensure aid taken from Global Sumud Flotilla is safely delivered into Gaza.

In a statement, a Foreign Office spokesperson said they have been in contact with the Israeli authorities after Israel attacked Global Sumud Flotilla as ships and activists illegally detained by Israel, belonging to the aid flotilla, are being brought to the Port of Ashdod.

The spokesperson said the UK expects the situation to be resolved safely, in line with international law and with due respect for the rights of all those on board.

"The aid carried by the flotilla should be turned over to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered safely into Gaza," the statement said.

"It is the responsibility of the Israeli government to resolve the atrocious humanitarian crisis in Gaza," it added.

The spokesperson also highlighted the need for immediately and unconditionally lifting restrictions on aid so that the UN and NGOs can deliver food, medicine and other essentials to civilians in desperate need.

Humanitarian aid flotilla

Israeli naval forces attacked the international aid flotilla bound for the besieged Gaza Strip and detained 317 activists who were on board, organizers said on Thursday.

The activists aboard the ships attacked by Israel were of various nationalities, including Spaniards, Italians, Brazilians, Turks, Greeks, Americans, Germans, Swedes, British, and French citizens, and many others.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on US social media company X that the detained activists were on their way to Israel's Ashdod Port, from which they will be deported to Europe.

The official flotilla tracker showed that 21 vessels were attacked by the Israeli forces, with 23 others en route to Gaza.