Gaza-bound All Sumud Flotilla Seized by Israel Except One

Israeli forces have boarded and taken control of nearly all of the ships in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had been attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, and that had garnered global attention as one of the biggest naval aid missions to the Palestinian enclave.

The flotilla – which includes at least 44 civilian boats carrying about 500 activists – was intercepted by Israeli forces late on Wednesday, with activists on board detained and taken to Israel. Attempts to stop the entourage continued on Thursday, and the Israeli military announced in a post on X at noon local time (09:00 GMT) that “all but one” of the ships had been seized.

Israel had previously said that it would do whatever it takes to stop the Gaza-bound flotilla, claiming the volunteers were trying to “breach a lawful naval blockade” – a claim that goes against international law.

Israel has blockaded Gaza to varying degrees since Hamas took control of the Strip in 2007. Gaza’s residents have largely been trapped in the territory since then, with the entry of food, goods and aid strictly controlled by Israel.

What happened to the flotilla on Wednesday?

Israel intercepted a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid, according to statements from the flotilla organisers.

They reported that Israeli naval 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.

Initial reports noted that at least 13 vessels had been intercepted at sea on Wednesday.

However, by noon local time (09:00 GMT) on Thursday, the Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that all except one had been intercepted. The last boat, the statement on X read, “remains at a distance”.

In an earlier statement, Saif Abukeshek, spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, said imore than 201 people from 37 countries were on board the boats in the flotilla. This included 30 participants from Spain, 22 from Italy, 21 from Turkiye and 12 from Malaysia, among others.

“We have around 30 ships that are still fighting their way away from the military vessels of the occupation forces trying to reach to the shores of Gaza. They are determined,” he said at that point.

At the time, those boats were 85km (46 nautical miles) from Gaza’s coast, according to the flotilla organisers.

The flotilla’s progress across the Mediterranean has drawn considerable international attention, and the arrests of activists on board sparked protests in cities including Rome, Buenos Aires and Istanbul on Wednesday night. Activist Greta Thunberg; the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau; and European Parliament member Rima Hassan are among the many who have been arrested.

Earlier in the day, activists described shadowy encounters with unlit boats and drones tailing the convoy, heightening tensions on board.

“On Wednesday … at around 8:30pm [17:30 GMT], multiple vessels of Global Sumud Flotilla – notably Alma, Surius, Adara – were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli Occupation Forces in international waters,” a flotilla statement said.

“Prior to illegally boarding the ships, it appears as though the Israeli naval vessels intentionally damaged ship communications, in an attempt to block distress signals and stop the livestream of their illegal boat boarding.”

Despite carrying only a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, the flotilla had pressed forward with its mission to establish a maritime corridor into Gaza, where nearly two years of Israel’s war have left the population facing an acute humanitarian crisis.

Israel's response

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a video showing a woman in military uniform speaking by phone, introducing herself as a representative of the Israeli navy.

In the call, she warns the flotilla that it is nearing a restricted, blockaded area and explains that any aid for Gaza must be sent “through the established channels”.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also said that activists on board the Gaza aid flotilla will be deported once the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur concludes on Thursday.

“Reports suggest more interceptions are expected,” Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, reporting from Doha, said.

“Israeli soldiers have boarded the ships and detained many of the activists on board. Those detained would normally go through a legal process, but Israel is currently under near-total shutdown because of the Yom Kippur holiday,” she added.

“That means courts and prisons are not functioning, creating a limbo for the activists if they are detained.”

A video published by Israel’s Foreign Ministry showed Thunberg, the Swedish climate campaigner, sitting on a deck with soldiers around her.

“Several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port,” the ministry said on X. “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy.”

Since 2009, Israel has formally enforced a naval blockade it says is necessary to prevent weapons from being smuggled in. Israeli authorities have also alleged that some flotilla organisers are connected to Hamas, a claim the activists strongly reject as unfounded. Israel has yet to present any evidence to prove its claims.