Source : Sky News
JERUSALEM/Gaza Sea Oct 1, 2025 — Israeli naval commandos boarded at least three vessels from the international Global Sumud Flotilla early Wednesday evening, detaining more than 30 activists from over 20 countries who were en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and protest Israel’s long-standing maritime blockade. Among those aboard were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and journalists, with the convoy carrying supplies of medicine, food, and medical equipment.
The interception occurred approximately 75 nautical miles northwest of Gaza’s coast, well within international waters, according to flotilla organizers and real-time tracking data shared by participants. The vessels targeted included the Alma, Sirius, and Adara, part of a larger convoy of up to eight ships that had entered a designated “high-risk zone” earlier in the day.
Live streams from the flotilla captured Israeli speedboats encircling the ships, jamming communications, and commandos rappelling onto decks, prompting cries of “This is piracy!” from crew members.
Flotilla coordinators, including David Kadlecek of Progressive International, described the operation as a “violent abduction” in violation of international maritime law, drawing parallels to the 2010 Freedom Flotilla raid that left nine activists dead aboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara.
“Right now we’re being encircled by Israeli naval boats,” Kadlecek told Sky News from one of the vessels moments before boarding began.
Organizers accused the Israeli forces of “dangerously close maneuvers” that endangered lives, echoing tactics used in previous blockade challenges.
Detained individuals, including seven Malaysian participants and several Italians, are expected to face deportation hearings, though Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that Italian nationals would be repatriated “as soon as possible.”
The flotilla, launched from ports in Turkey, Italy, and elsewhere as part of a coordinated global effort, aimed to spotlight Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, where UN agencies report acute shortages of food and medicine amid ongoing conflict and aid restrictions. Participants hailed from diverse backgrounds, including Egyptian activists who vanished in Cairo prior to departure—prompting fears of preemptive detention by Egyptian authorities—and Mexican delegates now facing calls for protection from their government.
News of the interception sparked immediate outrage and protests across Europe and beyond. In Italy, demonstrations erupted in Rome, Naples, Milan, and Florence, with crowds chanting “Free Palestine” and condemning the “illegal kidnapping” of civilians. Similar rallies drew thousands in Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey; Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain; Brussels, Belgium; Athens, Greece; and Berlin, Germany.
“This is not law enforcement—it’s repression of humanitarian solidarity,” one organizer posted on social media.
The incident underscores escalating tensions in the region, where Israel’s blockade—now in its 18th year—has been criticized by human rights groups as collective punishment exacerbating Gaza’s plight. As of Thursday morning, flotilla trackers showed the intercepted vessels redirected toward Israeli waters, with organizers vowing to continue “sumud”—Arabic for steadfast perseverance—in future efforts.
International calls for an independent probe into the boarding have mounted, with activists urging world leaders to “sound the alarm” against what they term a flagrant breach of global norms.