Israeli naval forces intercepted most of the vessels in a flotilla heading toward Gaza on Thursday, detaining dozens of activists as well as several European lawmakers. The group had set out with the stated goal of challenging Israel’s blockade of the territory, which has drawn global criticism.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which organized the voyage, said the mission was aimed at challenging Israel’s blockade of the territory. All but three of the 43 vessels being tracked online by the Global Sumud Flotilla were listed as having been confirmed or assumed to have been stopped by Israeli forces on Thursday, with a total of 443 people “forcibly taken from their vessels.” Organizers reported that one ship managed to continue sailing and reached the waters off Gaza early Thursday before losing all communication; they also claimed that 39 of their vessels were either seized or presumed seized after contact was cut off during an overnight Israeli operation.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that those aboard the ships, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, were safe. Officials said the passengers were being transported to Israel, with the Israeli Foreign Ministry later releasing footage on social media showing Thunberg and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila on one of the intercepted vessels as it was redirected toward Israel, receiving a raincoat and a bottle of water from navy personnel while seated on the deck of a ship. In a post on social media, the foreign ministry assured that the activists and their boats “were being transported safely and peacefully to the port city of Ashdod, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health.”
The flotilla, consisting of nearly 50 boats carrying around 500 people, was largely symbolic and bringing only a small quantity of aid. Participants included high-profile figures such as Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela; former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau; and multiple European parliamentarians. Despite the interception, organizers reiterated that their mission to oppose the blockade and show solidarity with Palestinians remained unchanged.
Greg Stoker, an American military veteran aboard the Ohwayla – one of the boats in the flotilla – said in a video posted on Instagram that “they are currently hailing our vessels, telling us to turn off our engines and await further instructions or our boats will be seized and we will face the consequences.” Around a dozen Israeli naval vessels with their transponders off had approached it early Thursday, he said, adding that Israeli authorities used water cannons against some of the boats.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told RAI television that Israeli forces had been instructed “not to resort to violence,” but Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni felt that organizers of the Flotilla’s effort was misguided, stating, “I continue to believe this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people.”
Flotilla organizers also alleged that some of their ships had previously come under drone attacks — first near Tunisia and later in Greek waters. Fires broke out on two boats off the Tunisian coast, which authorities there confirmed they were investigating as intentional strikes.
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