GAZA – Israeli forces intercepted, boarded, and took control of several ships that are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Activists on board were abducted, prompting widespread international condemnation.
What Happened?
Israeli naval forces intercepted a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid on Wednesday, according to statements from the flotilla organizers.
They reported that the forces boarded the vessels about 70 nautical miles (130km) off the coast of Gaza, cutting communications and jamming signals as the flotilla neared the blockaded enclave.
Global Sumud Flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek has provided a “mission update” in a post on Instagram, confirming that Israeli forces have intercepted 13 boats at sea.
Abukeshek said there were more than 201 people from 37 countries on those boats, including 30 participants from Spain, 22 from Italy, 21 from Turkey and 12 from Malaysia.
He said the group’s “mission is going on” despite the arrests, and vessels are continuing to sail “through the Mediterranean to break the siege on Gaza”.
The flotilla in all includes more than 40 civilian boats and about 500 activists from dozens of countries.
The raid came hours after Italy, Spain, and Turkey withdrew their military escorts and surveillance drones, leaving the humanitarian flotilla exposed.
The mission included South African politician Mandela Mandela, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, French MEP Rima Hassan, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
Organizers said the ships carried baby formula, food, and medical supplies. They described the effort as peaceful and aimed at breaking Israel’s siege on Gaza.
But Israel accused the flotilla of attempting to breach its naval blockade, claiming that it is affiliated with Hamas.
On September 30, Italy ended its naval escort of the flotilla, halting at the 150-nautical-mile line that Israel declared off-limits. Rome urged participants to abandon the mission.
Spain followed suit on October 1. Defense Minister Margarita Robles said the Spanish warship Furor would track the flotilla but not intervene unless “absolutely necessary.”
Earlier the same day, Turkey’s Akinci drone providing aerial cover left the area around 01:45 UTC.
The withdrawals left the flotilla without international protection when Israel launched its assault.
The flotilla had already faced multiple drone strikes and firebomb attacks in September. Activists said Israel was trying to intimidate them into turning back.
Despite the risks, flotilla leaders vowed to continue until aid reaches Gaza, where more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
“This mission is peaceful, non-violent, and urgent,” the group said. “The people of Gaza are starving and under siege. We cannot stop.”
The Israeli attack on the flotilla sparked international outrage. Here are some of the global reactions:
Malaysia
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he condemns in the “strongest terms” Israel’s “intimidation and coercion” of vessels carrying “unarmed civilians and life-saving humanitarian supplies for Gaza”.
Israel, he said in a post on X, had shown “utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world”. At least 12 Malaysian nationals are on the boats intercepted by Israel so far.
Ireland
Foreign Minister Simon Harris said he has spoken to European Union counterparts who are part of the Gaza flotilla after the raid by Israeli forces and the arrest of activists attempting to deliver aid by sea to the Palestinian territory.
He called the Israeli action “very concerning”, describing the flotilla as “a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe”.
Ireland’s Foreign Ministry said that its embassy in Tel Aviv was speaking with Israeli authorities. “Our focus now is on assisting citizens immediately impacted and their families. This will be the priority for our team over the coming hours,” the ministry said.
Colombia
President Gustavo Petro has expelled Israeli diplomats from the South American country in response to the Israeli detention of Gaza flotilla activists, including two Colombian nationals. In a post on X, Petro also said a free trade agreement between Colombia and Israel had been “denounced immediately”.
He added, in a separate post: “Here Netanyahu demonstrates his worldwide hypocrisy and why he is a worldwide criminal who must be captured”.
Venezuela
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said on Telegram that Israel’s move to stop the boats from getting to Gaza “exposes, once again, the criminal nature of the Zionist regime”. He added that “the blockade of humanitarian aid is a tool of deliberate war, the continuation of genocide by other means, seeing to annihilate the population by starvation to complement their indiscriminate bombings”.
Turkey
Foreign Ministry called Israel’s “attack” on the Global Sumud Flotilla “an act of terror” that endangered the lives of innocent civilians.
The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office said it launched an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens on board the vessels, including for deprivation of liberty, seizure of transport vehicles, and damage to property.
Brazil
Brazil “deplores the Israeli government’s military action, which violates rights and endangers the physical well-being of peaceful protesters”, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“The responsibility for the safety of those detained now rests with Israel,” it added.
Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira earlier said his government communicated “directly” to Israel its concern for the 15 Brazilians taking part in the flotilla.
Pakistan
Pakistan has condemned Israel’s interception of dozens of vessels in the Sumud flotilla as a “dastardly attack”.
“We hope and pray for the safety of all those who have been illegally apprehended by Israeli forces and call for their immediate release. Their crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people,” said Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s prime minister.
UN Special Rapporteur
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, has questioned why nations around the world have not tried to break the Israeli military’s naval blockade of Gaza.
If “citizens of the world”, travelling in “small and underresourced boats”, have been able to get to within 60 nautical miles (111km) of Gaza in a flotilla, Albanese asked why countries with well-equipped navies can’t far more easily break the Israeli siege.
“Why states don’t break the blockade with their navies?” Albanese asked in a post on social media.
UK
The British government is “very concerned” about Israel’s interception of the flotilla, the Foreign Office said, adding it made clear to Israeli occupation authorities the situation should be resolved safely.
“We are very concerned about the situation with the Sumud Flotilla, we are in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved,” it said in a statement.
“The aid carried by the flotilla should be turned over to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered safely into Gaza. It is the responsibility of the Israeli government to resolve the atrocious humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
“That means 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.”
Australia
Australia said it’s aware of reports of “detainments” by Israeli troops on the flotilla carrying activists and aid bound for Gaza.
Canberra said it stands ready to provide consular assistance to its affected citizens on board.
“Australia calls on all parties to respect international law, to ensure the safety and humane treatment of those involved,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Spain
Spain has summoned Israel’s top representative in Madrid in response to the assault.
“Today I summoned the charge d’affaires here in Madrid,” Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told public broadcaster TVE, saying 65 Spaniards are travelling with the flotilla. Israel withdrew its ambassador to Madrid last year after Spain recognised a Palestinian state. — QNN
