Pakistan, Turkey, Brazil, Spain, South Africa and six other countries have jointly condemned in the "strongest terms" Israel's military interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (a multinational civilian convoy attempting to deliver aid to the besieged Gaza Strip), after Israeli forces boarded at least 22 of its vessels in international waters near the Greek island of Crete and detained an estimated 175 to 211 activists from 48 nationalities. The joint statement, signed by the foreign ministers of all eleven countries, described the raid and the "unlawful detention" of activists as "flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law," and called for the immediate release of those held. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation, saying no "Hamas-supporting" vessel reached Israeli territory or waters, while Israel's foreign minister announced the detainees would be disembarked on a Greek beach in coordination with Athens.