In a tense nighttime operation reminiscent of past maritime confrontations, Israeli naval commandos boarded and seized three vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla early Wednesday, detaining 20 activists including climate icon Greta Thunberg. The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was intercepted approximately 80 nautical miles from the besieged territory in international waters.
The vessels—Alma, Sirius, and Adara—had set sail from European ports last month, loaded with essential supplies such as medical equipment, rice, and baby formula. Organizers aimed to pierce Israel’s longstanding naval blockade of Gaza, which has restricted access to the Palestinian enclave since 2007, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis now entering its 19th year.
“These brave souls are putting their freedom on the line to deliver what Gaza so desperately needs,” said a flotilla spokesperson in a statement released hours after the boarding. “This interception is not just an attack on our mission—it’s a stark reminder of the siege’s stranglehold.”
Footage circulating on social media showed Israeli forces in speedboats approaching the ships under cover of darkness, with commandos rappelling aboard amid shouts and flares lighting the Mediterranean sky. No injuries were reported, but the activists were swiftly transferred to Ashdod Port for immigration processing and questioning. Among them was Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist whose presence amplified global attention to the voyage.
The incident has ignited a wave of international backlash. In Italy, a general strike paralyzed major ports including Genoa, where dockworkers refused to handle shipments in solidarity with the flotilla. “We stand with those challenging injustice at sea,” read banners waved by protesters blocking cranes and loading bays.
Greece, where the flotilla faced delays before departing, saw crowds gather outside the foreign ministry in Athens late Wednesday, condemning the government’s role in the holdup. “Our ports should be gateways to aid, not barriers,” one demonstrator told local media.
Further afield, in Istanbul, hundreds rallied near the U.S. consulate, accusing Washington of tacitly endorsing the interception through its alliance with Israel. Chants of “Hands off Gaza!” echoed into the night as police formed lines to contain the growing throng.
This is not the first such clash. The operation evoked memories of the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid, when Israeli forces stormed a similar aid convoy, killing 10 activists and sparking global outrage. Flotilla organizers decried Wednesday’s boarding as “illegal piracy,” vowing to pursue legal challenges at the International Criminal Court.
As the detainees await deportation or release, aid groups warn that Gaza’s needs grow more acute by the day. With land crossings tightly controlled and sea routes blocked, the enclave’s 2.3 million residents continue to grapple with shortages of food, medicine, and clean water.
The Israeli Defense Forces have yet to confirm the fate of the aid cargo, but past interceptions have seen supplies redirected through official channels—if at all. For now, the world watches as another chapter unfolds in the decades-long saga of blockade and resistance.