Al Jazeera English A spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla has described Israel’s boarding of its vessels as “a straight-up attack on unarmed civilian boats in international waters." Press officer Gur Tsabar, speaking to Al Jazeera from Toronto, Canada, said the sea assault is taking place “hundreds of miles from Israel” with the flotilla being “surrounded and threatened at gunpoint." “This is illegal under international law. Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters. Boarding these boats amounts to illegal detention—potentially kidnapping on the high seas,” said Tsabar. “It’s critical that all governments act now. Every government has an obligation to protect the more than 400 civilians onboard and uphold international law. Silence in this moment is absolute complicity.”