Israeli Occupation forces seize Libyan aid ship ‘Omar al-Mukhtar’

Ahmed al-Haddad, the General Coordinator of the Libyan vessel “Omar al-Mukhtar,” confirmed that Israeli occupation forces gained control this morning of the ship, which had sailed from Tripoli on a humanitarian mission to break the siege on the Gaza Strip. The ship was carrying a group of unarmed activists.
In a statement issued this Thursday morning, Al-Haddad clarified that all passengers on board maintained complete non-violence and offered no resistance during the takeover. He argued that the incident itself constituted a moral victory, as it successfully exposed the occupation’s arrogance and laid bare its practices before global public opinion. He stressed that the voyage was launched in the name of dignity and humanity to support the besieged Palestinian people.
The General Coordinator indicated that the currently detained activists were being transferred to one of the occupied Palestinian ports. There, they are scheduled to meet with a British legal team who will monitor their case to ensure fair treatment, pending their release within a maximum of 48 hours.
The statement also announced a press conference scheduled for Thursday evening in Al-Jazair Square in the capital, Tripoli, intended to review the latest legal developments. The organisers affirmed their full readiness to welcome and celebrate the detainees upon their release, in recognition of their human rights activism and humanitarian stance.
Testimonies from the Abducted Activists:
The ship’s official page published multiple video recordings from activists on board confirming the abduction by Israeli occupation forces;
Margaret Baizda (Scotland): Called for contact with the UK government for assistance, insisting the detention was illegal under international law.
Al-Siddiq Al-Sharif: Confirmed they were on a purely relief mission, carrying neither weapons nor prohibited materials, and noted that the video was proof of their abduction by a party that cannot be trusted.
Dr. Yvonne Ridley: Suggested she was being taken hostage, affirming their goal was to open a humanitarian corridor to deliver food and aid to starving Palestinian children. She stressed that they are human rights activists, not terrorists, and demanded that responsible authorities be contacted to help secure their release.
Mustafa Abu Bakr Aftis (Captain): Emphasised that their only purpose was humanitarian work to supply children with aid, medicine, and vitamins, expressing hope for an end to the unjust war.
Nabil Al-Sokani (Journalist/Activist): Confirmed that the posted clip proved their abduction.
Rabab Mustafa (Egyptian-Canadian): She demanded that the video be shared widely following her capture.
Saad Al-Maghribi (Libyan-British): Called for his voice to be conveyed to Libyan authorities and British embassy.
In conclusion, the statement asserted that the “Omar al-Mukhtar” voyage will remain a landmark event in the trajectory of Libyan peaceful resistance in solidarity with Gaza, sending a clear message to the world that the power of humanity supersedes the siege, and the voices of the free cannot be shackled or drowned by the seas, despite continuous Israeli violations.