Israeli Forces Intercept Global Sumud Flotilla Boats Near Crete, Detain 175 Activists

Israeli forces intercepted Gaza-bound boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near the Greek island of Crete and detained activists, according to multiple reports.

“Israel has begun intercepting Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla aid boats Israeli military forces have intercepted boats travelling with the Global Sumud Flotilla, using drones, communications jamming technology and armed raiding parties to halt the humanitarian fleet in the middle of the Mediterranean, according to organisers and Israeli media”

Al Jazeera

The BBC said pro-Palestinian activists claimed at least 22 boats were intercepted in international waters near Crete and that organisers denounced the action as "piracy," while the Israeli foreign ministry said about 175 activists from more than 20 boats were detained and being transported to Israel.

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reported that Israel began intercepting the flotilla aid boats using drones, communications jamming technology and armed raiding parties to halt the humanitarian fleet in the middle of the Mediterranean, and it quoted the flotilla saying, “Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel’, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons.”

Euronews said Israeli soldiers boarded the ships, damaged engines and communications devices, and the group posted on X that its boats were intercepted in what it called an "illegal act."

NPR described the interception as occurring overnight Wednesday into Thursday near the southern Greek island of Crete, with crews detained while the flotilla sailed near Crete.

The flotilla’s own tracking was described by Al Jazeera as showing “22 boats have been intercepted” while “36 are still sailing towards Gaza,” and the BBC said the tracking data showed most of the remaining 36 boats were close to Crete's south coast.

The distance from Gaza was central to the dispute: Al Jazeera said the flotilla was estimated to be about 600 nautical miles from Gaza, while NPR said the raid occurred “over 600 miles from Gaza.”

Accounts of what happened during the boarding varied in emphasis but repeatedly described communications disruption, disabling of vessels, and detentions.

The BBC said the Global Sumud Flotilla claimed Israeli naval forces had "intercepted, boarded, and systematically disabled and destroyed various boats" during a "violent raid in international waters" west of Crete overnight, and it quoted the group saying that after detaining participants, smashing an engine and jamming communications, the forces retreated and left civilians stranded on “powerless, broken vessels.”

Al-Jazeera Net

Euronews similarly said the activists reported that their boats were approached, communications were being jammed, and that the raid involved “violent raid” and “systematically disabled” several ships.

CBS News reported that activists said Israeli forces intercepted 22 vessels and detained their crews, quoting the flotilla’s post on X that after “smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays, the military retreated — intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels.”

Al Jazeera described Tariq Ra’ouf, a writer and activist on board, saying the fleet was surrounded by large Israeli military ships and that “Drones have been surrounding us and flashing us with lights,” while he said the flotilla’s communications were jammed by Israeli military playing music over radio channels as “some sort of psychological warfare tactic.”

The Israeli foreign ministry’s position was sharply different: the BBC said Israel insisted its actions complied with international law and that the ministry said the operation was carried out “peacefully and without any casualties,” adding that an initial inspection revealed materials that “appear to be drugs and contraceptives.”

The Israeli foreign ministry also framed the action as preventive, with the BBC quoting it saying that “due to the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade, an early action was required.”

The incident quickly became a contest over jurisdiction, international law, and the intent behind the flotilla.

Al Jazeera quoted Global Sumud Flotilla spokesperson Gur Tsabar describing the boarding as “a straight-up attack on unarmed civilian boats in international waters,” and he told Al Jazeera that “This is illegal under international law. Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters.”

He added that “Boarding these boats amounts to illegal detention – potentially kidnapping on the high seas,” and he said “It’s critical that all governments act now. Every government has an obligation to protect the over 400 civilians on board and to uphold international law.”

The BBC reported that the Israeli foreign ministry dismissed the flotilla as a "PR stunt" and said it was “another PR stunt… professional provocateurs on pleasure cruises,” while it also accused organisers of “joining hands” with Hamas “with the aim of sabotaging President Trump's [Gaza] peace plan transition to its second phase.”

NPR quoted the flotilla’s press release calling the interception “the abduction of civilians in the middle of the Mediterranean, over 600 miles from Gaza, in full view of the world,” and it said Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the seizure as “an act of piracy.”

Il Sole 24 ORE described Gur Tsabar explaining, “Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters,” and it quoted the same argument that “Intercepting or boarding these boats would amount to illegal detention, potentially kidnapping on the high seas.”

In contrast, the Jerusalem Post reported that Defense Minister Israel Katz said a provision of the Counterterrorism Law authorizes the seizure of ships and other property intended for use in terror activity, and it quoted Katz saying the Global Sumud Flotilla “violates UN Resolution 2803, which stipulated that aid to Gaza should enter through accepted official channels.”

Reactions from governments and political figures reflected the split between condemnation of the raid and Israel’s insistence on legality.

BBC coverage said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the seizure and demanded Israel immediately release "all the unlawfully detained Italians," with Italian media reporting that 24 Italians had been detained.

AsiaNews.it

The BBC also quoted European Union foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni saying, “We reiterate our call on Israeli authorities to respect international law, including international humanitarian law and international maritime law.”

NPR reported that activists planned a protest rally Thursday afternoon outside the Greek foreign ministry in Athens, arguing the interception occurred “within the maritime zone that falls under Greece's responsibility for search and rescue operations” and that the country’s coast guard had not reacted.

The Turkish foreign ministry condemned the seizure as “an act of piracy,” and NPR quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussing the raid over the phone with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares Bueno.

France 24 reported that flotilla organisers said Israel’s army had “kidnapped” 211 activists including a Paris city councillor, and it quoted Global Sumud France spokeswoman Helene Coron saying the raid took place near Crete at an “unprecedented” distance from the Gaza coast.

Meanwhile, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon defended the operation, with Al Jazeera quoting him saying the flotilla was “stopped before reaching our area” and that Israeli soldiers were acting with “determination dealing with a group of delusional attention-seeking agitators.”

The sources also pointed to what comes next for the detained activists and for the broader effort to reach Gaza with aid.

The BBC said Israel’s foreign ministry stated that about 175 activists from more than 20 boats were “now making their way peacefully to Israel,” and it reported that the GSF said it remained committed to sailing to Gaza to deliver aid and shed light on the plight of the Palestinian people.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Euronews said it was not yet clear if Israel arrested all the activists on board every boat it intercepted and took them on board Israeli vessels, or if some activists remained stranded at sea.

Il Sole 24 ORE described one specific case: it said the ship Tamtam (Al Bassa) had its engines, sail and communication equipment damaged, leaving the crew of seven on the boat adrift, and it quoted Maria Elena Delia saying it was “An action that puts the lives of the crew at serious risk,” especially “in light of the fact that a storm is coming.”

Al Jazeera said rescue and communications problems persisted, with Tariq Ra’ouf telling it, “We’ve lost communication with many of our boats,” and it reported that the flotilla’s tracking map showed “36 are still sailing towards Gaza.”

The dispute over aid access and the humanitarian situation in Gaza formed the backdrop for the flotilla’s stated objectives, with the BBC quoting the GSF saying its objectives were to “challenge Israel's illegal blockade, advance the opening of a permanent humanitarian corridor, and intensify coordinated international pressure on governments and corporations complicit in its enforcement.”

The BBC also included a UN warning from UN Assistant Secretary General Khaled Khiari to the Security Council that Gaza’s 2.1 million population was “facing ongoing and deadly Israeli strikes and dire humanitarian conditions,” and it quoted Khiari saying “Food security remains a challenge, while essential services, particularly water, sanitation, and health, are again on the brink of collapse.”