Israeli naval forces boarded and seized more than 20 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in international waters near Crete, the Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean, detaining approximately 175 activists who were attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the detentions early Thursday, saying those held were being transported to Israel. Video shared by the ministry showed activists gathered aboard an Israeli naval vessel; footage released by flotilla organisers showed passengers with their hands raised.
The flotilla — named the "Sumud" (meaning steadfastness in Arabic) fleet — departed from Barcelona, Marseille and Syracuse over the past two weeks, with a total of around 58 to 60 vessels carrying participants from more than 39 countries. According to the GSF, military speedboats identifying themselves as Israeli approached the convoy approximately 965 kilometres from Gaza, with personnel pointing lasers and semi-automatic weapons at passengers and ordering them to the front of the boats. The organisation said communications, including distress channels, were jammed once vessels were boarded. Remaining boats, some 30 or more, anchored near Crete and planned to continue once weather conditions improved.
Israel defended the operation as lawful, with its Foreign Ministry dismissing the flotilla as "a PR stunt" driven by Hamas with the aim of undermining the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction plan. The flotilla's organisers called the interception "piracy" and a violation of international law. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon confirmed the vessels had been stopped before reaching Israeli waters.
The operation drew swift international condemnation. Turkey and Spain coordinated a joint statement through their foreign ministers, calling the interception a violation of international law that had endangered civilians of multiple nationalities. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said the incident "should shock all of Europe," describing it as "apartheid without borders." Among those on board were citizens from the Netherlands, Pakistan — including former senator Mushtaq Ahmad — and Palestinian-American writer Tariq Ra'ouf.
This is the second time Israeli forces have intercepted a GSF mission; in October 2025, more than 470 people were arrested and subsequently deported, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007. The interception also follows a separate report by Médecins Sans Frontières accusing Israeli authorities of systematically restricting water access in Gaza, with roughly one-third of the organisation's requests to bring in water and sanitation supplies rejected or unanswered. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains the backdrop against which international pressure over the blockade continues to grow.