Israel Raids Gaza-Bound Flotilla Off Crete, Detains About 175 Activists

Israeli naval forces raided Gaza-bound aid vessels in international waters off the Greek island of Crete late on Wednesday, according to the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission and multiple outlets covering the incident.

Middle East Eye said the seizure occurred “about 600 nautical miles from Gaza’s shores, off the coast of the Greek island of Crete,” and reported that “at least 15 boats were raided,” with those on board “abducted” and “unaccounted for.”

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The Guardian reported that “Twenty-two vessels were intercepted off the coast of Crete on Wednesday evening,” while The Times of Israel said the flotilla comprised “58 boats” and that “some 175 activists had been detained and 21 boats had been intercepted” by Thursday morning.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said “approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats were in Israeli custody,” as Middle East Eye reported.

The Guardian added that “Six Australians who were detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) while attempting to transport aid to Gaza” were to be released on a Greek island, with Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar saying the IDF had “successfully blocked attempts to breach the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.”

In the same reporting, the Guardian said the detained sailors were to be released on the island of Crete and that “All participants in the provocative flotilla who were taken off the vessels were taken off unharmed.”

The Times of Israel further specified that “two activists who led an aid flotilla bound for Gaza were being brought to Israel as suspects on Friday,” while “the other activists” were taken to the port of Atherinolakkos in the southeast of the island by “four buses.”

The raid quickly became a dispute over legality and intent, with Israel describing its actions as enforcement of a “lawful” blockade and flotilla organisers calling it “piracy” and “kidnapping.”

Middle East Eye quoted organisers saying, “This is piracy. This is the unlawful seizure of human beings on the open sea near Crete,” and argued that “No state has the right to claim, police, or occupy international waters.”

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It also reported that Global Sumud Flotilla said vessels were “systematically disabled” after being raided, including “After smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays,” while “communications with multiple vessels have been jammed.”

The Guardian reported that a spokesperson for the flotilla alleged the IDF “smashed boat engines and jammed communications,” and that the flotilla accused Israel’s government of “piracy” and “kidnapping.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry and foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar framed the operation differently, with the Guardian quoting Sa’ar posting on X that the IDF had “successfully blocked attempts to breach the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.”

The Guardian also said Israel’s foreign minister described the flotilla as “provocative,” and that “In coordination with the Greek government, the individuals transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be disembarked on a Greek beach in the coming hours.”

SBS Australia relayed a competing claim from activist organisers that the army had “kidnapped” 211 activists, while also quoting DFAT’s warning about “injury, death, arrest or deportation.”

As the flotilla was intercepted, the detention and planned release of Australians became a focal point, with Australian officials and families describing uncertainty and urging action.

The Guardian said “Six Australians who were detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)” were to be released on the island of Crete, and that “Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) are in Crete to provide consular assistance to Australians transferred there.”

It added that “Of the 14 Australians participating in the flotilla, just two remain in communication,” and quoted Anny Mokotow saying, “Many boats have been broken, engines destroyed and rigging cut.”

SBS Australia similarly reported that “Six Australians have been detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and are expected to be taken to Crete,” and that “DFAT consular officials are in Crete to provide consular assistance to any Australians transferred there.”

SBS Australia included a direct plea from families, with Marissa Floyd saying, “It has been more than 24 hours since I first made contact with DFAT and Dan Repacholi as my local member.”

Bianca Webb-Pullman’s mother Julie told reporters at a press conference in Melbourne, “Bianca is a doctor trying to ensure medical aid gets into Gaza — the Australian government must enable her and the flotilla's unobstructed passage through international waters to deliver it.”

The Guardian named the Australians expected to be released in Crete as “Newcastle climate activist Zack Schofield,” “Ethan Floyd,” “Neve O’Connor,” “Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman,” “Surya McEwen and Cameron Tribe.”

While some reporting focused on release logistics, other outlets described allegations of violence by Israeli troops during the interception and detention.

Ynetnews reported that “several participants claimed in interviews with Italian media” that they were subjected to “severe violence and torture” by IDF troops, and said Corriere della Sera published photos showing what it said were “apparent signs of violence on their faces.”

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Ynetnews wrote that Corriere della Sera cited an “unofficial response from Israeli officials,” and then quoted the flotilla organisers’ statement about “40 hours of planned brutality aboard one of the Israeli navy’s ships in Greece’s territorial waters.”

In that statement, organisers alleged they were “denied reasonable access to water and food,” and that “They were forced to sleep on the floor of the deck, which was deliberately and constantly flooded with water.”

The statement also claimed that when soldiers began arrests of Saif Abu Kashk and Thiago Avila, “our crew resisted peacefully, and in response, pure violence was used against them.”

Ynetnews added that “Some activists suffered broken noses, others broken ribs and other bleeding wounds.”

It said the organisers filed a complaint in Rome over the “kidnapping” of the two central activists and their transfer to Israel for questioning, and warned of “grave concern for the safety of the two.”

Beyond the immediate raid, the episode unfolded as a contest over messaging and future handling of participants, with Israeli officials and critics framing the same events in sharply different ways.

The Jerusalem Post described “a completely different kind of battle” behind the scenes, saying Israel sought to “neutralize both the Global Sumud Flotilla itself and its explosive potential in the international arena.”

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It said Israel’s information campaign rested on “three central messages,” including “the denial of the flotilla's legitimacy,” and claimed “Hamas is the driving force behind the initiative.”

The Jerusalem Post also described Israel’s “almost satirical line” branding the flotilla as the “condom flotilla,” saying, “We didn’t have to invent anything.”

In contrast, Le Monde reported that “176 European citizens” disembarked at dawn on Friday, May 1, in a port near Lassithi, in Crete, while “Two men were missing: Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila.”

BFM reported that on Saturday, May 2, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on X that the two activists had arrived in Israel to be questioned, and said Spain had called for the “immediate release” of Saif Abu Keshek.

The Times of Israel specified that Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila were to be brought to Israel for questioning, while other activists were disembarked in Greece and repatriation was arranged through Greek authorities.