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Flotilla organizers report that, despite Israeli forces intercepting 13 boats carrying foreign activists and aid destined for Gaza, 30 vessels are still sailing toward the war-torn Palestinian territory. A screenshot from a live stream shows Israeli navy personnel aboard the Gaza-bound vessel Florida, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which has been reportedly stopped. The video, verified by the Israeli foreign ministry and shared by Reuters, features prominent passenger Greta Thunberg sitting amid soldiers on a deck.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on X that several vessels from the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been successfully halted and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port, affirming that Greta Thunberg and her companions are safe and in good health. The flotilla, comprising more than 40 civilian boats with around 500 activists, lawmakers, and lawyers, is delivering medicine and food supplies to Gaza. Some participants have shared videos on Telegram, claiming they were forcibly taken to Israel against their will, emphasizing that their mission remains purely humanitarian and non-violent.
This flotilla symbolizes significant opposition to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, attracting international scrutiny as it navigates the Mediterranean. Countries like Turkey, Spain, and Italy have deployed ships or drones to assist their nationals if needed, despite Israel’s persistent warnings to turn back.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel’s recent attack on the Samud Gaza flotilla, describing it as a “dastardly” act. Pakistan strongly denounced the assault, which targeted the 40-vessel flotilla carrying over 450 humanitarian workers from 44 countries, and called for the immediate release of those detained. Sharif expressed concern for those captured and reiterated that their only “crime” was delivering aid to Palestinians. He emphasized that such barbaric acts must end and urged for peace and unobstructed humanitarian aid.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar labeled the interception and arrests an overt violation of international law, demanding an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade, swift release of detainees, and unrestricted aid to Gaza. Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the attack as an act of terror that put civilians at risk.
Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s entire diplomatic delegation after Israel detained two Colombians involved in the flotilla. Colombia hasn’t had an ambassador in Israel since last year. Petro criticized these detentions as potentially constituting a new international crime by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he also canceled Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned Israel’s interception, noting that eight Malaysians had been detained. He accused Israel of blatant disrespect for Palestinian rights and international conscience. The interception also triggered protests in Italy and Colombia, where unions organized a general strike in solidarity with the aid convoy.
Israel had previously warned the flotilla that it was approaching an active combat zone and violating the blockade, offering to transfer aid peacefully through secure channels. The flotilla’s organizers condemned the raid as a “war crime,” stating that Israeli military tactics were aggressive but no injuries occurred. The boats were intercepted approximately 70 nautical miles from Gaza, in a zone Gaza authorities say Israel patrols to prevent ships from approaching. Communications had been reportedly jammed, including live camera feeds from some vessels.
As of early Thursday, 13 boats had been stopped or intercepted. The remaining 30 boats continue their journey toward Gaza, about 46 nautical miles from their destination. The organizers remain defiant, promising to proceed despite the setbacks. Their initial plan was to reach Gaza on Thursday morning.
Israel continues to dismiss the mission as a provocation, accusing it of being designed not for humanitarian reasons but to incite conflict. Since Hamas took control in 2007, Israel has maintained a naval blockade on Gaza, with past attempts by activists to break it leading to deadly confrontations — notably in 2010 when nine activists were killed during a raid on a flotilla.
Earlier this year, Israeli naval forces detained Thunberg and 11 others from a small flotilla organized by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The ongoing conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the hostage-taking of 251 people, has caused devastating casualties in Gaza, numbering over 65,000 according to local health authorities.
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