Israel Abducts and Illegally Detains 178-180 Global Sumud Flotilla Activists Off Crete

The International Committee to Break the Gaza Blockade said Israel abducted and illegally detained between 178 and 180 activists after what it described as the 'aggression' against 22 boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

“Yusuf Ajisa, head of the International Committee to Break the Gaza Siege, said on Friday that testimonies from activists in the Global Stand Firm Fleet described how they were subjected to abuses during their detention by Israeli forces after intercepting several boats in international waters off the coast of Greece”

Al-Jazeera Net

The committee said the 'Spring 2026 Mission' sailed on Sunday from the Italian island of Sicily and that the Israeli army carried out an interception operation by entering international waters off Crete, targeting the boats carrying activists.

Al-Jazeera Net

It added that its information indicates that Israel forcibly transferred the abductees from the Global Sumud Flotilla to the port of Ashdod, and that Israeli forces 'carried out strikes in international waters, deliberately intercepting ships, and some of them were disabled.'

The committee described the assault as 'one of the most dangerous forms of organized maritime piracy' and warned that 'the danger remains and is escalating,' while urging the Greek government to take immediate action given the assault occurred within its maritime domain.

A statement issued by the fleet said the number of those injured reached 31 activists from diverse nationalities, including four from New Zealand and Australia, and it said the activists detained by the Zionist enemy were subjected to ill-treatment aboard a vessel belonging to its navy for about forty hours.

The statement described deprivation of adequate food and water and forced sleeping on a wet floor, and it said the Zionist forces used violence against participants who tried to prevent the detention of the Palestinian-origin activist Seif Abu Kashk, alongside Brazilian activist Tiago Avila.

Euronews

Masrawy reported that the fleet organizers announced in a statement that sixty participants began a hunger strike in protest of what happened, while it said Israel took Seif Abu Kashk on suspicion of ties to what it described as a terrorist organization and transferred Tiago Avila to Israel on suspicion of engaging in illegal activity.

Euronews reported that at least four activists said they had been subjected to sexual assaults during detention, while two others reported humiliating touching of their genitals, and it said the Global Resilience Fleet accused Israeli authorities of committing physical and sexual violations after the convoy was intercepted near Crete on April 29.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Themeen al-Khitan said the activists were "stopped in international waters and transferred to Israel where they remain detained without charges," and she called for the immediate and unconditional release of Avila and Abu Kishk.

“Israel: The Greek government has agreed to disembark activists from the Global Resilience Fleet off its shores”

Masrawy

Euronews also reported that foreign ministers from 11 countries, including Jordan, Spain, Turkey, South Africa, and Brazil, issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli assault and detention, saying targeting humanitarian ships in international waters constitutes a 'flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.'

Al-Jazeera Net quoted Yusuf Ajisa, head of the International Committee to Break the Gaza Siege, urging the release of the two activists who remain in custody, Seif Abu Kashk and Tiago Avila, and calling for protection of ships heading to the Gaza Strip so they are not subjected to any attack or piracy in international waters or in the territorial waters of some European countries.

It said Ajisa argued that imposing sanctions on Israel has become an urgent necessity, and it added that the Global Stand Firm Fleet said the continued detention of Abu Kashk and Avila is illegal and that they are detained due to their commitment to humanitarian solidarity with the people of Gaza.