Israel said Thursday it intercepted more than 20 aid vessels carrying about 175 activists that were sailing toward the Gaza Strip, stopping them in international waters near Greece.
The mission was organized by the Global Sumud Flotilla and follows a similar effort last year, when roughly 45 boats were intercepted. Palestinian officials and international aid groups say the supplies that reach Gaza are far short of what the enclave needs.
Details of the interception
Global Sumud Flotilla reported that Israeli naval vessels seized 15 ships near Crete, hundreds of miles from Gaza. The group said Israeli speedboats approached identifying themselves as military, using lasers and displaying semi‑automatic weapons, and ordered passengers to the fronts of the boats and to kneel. Organizers called the operation “piracy” and “the unlawful seizure of human beings on the open sea,” arguing it showed Israel’s capacity to operate beyond its borders.
Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon, said the flotilla “was stopped before reaching our area” and described those aboard as “attention-seeking agitators.” Organizers said the spring campaign included more than 50 vessels, marking the largest coordinated civilian maritime attempt for the Palestinian territories to date.
Why the flotilla was headed to Gaza
Past Freedom Flotilla missions aimed both to deliver goods and to draw international attention to conditions in Gaza; participants have been arrested and expelled by Israel. Observers note the shipments themselves rarely meet Gaza’s needs but serve as a high-profile protest and humanitarian statement, said Nathan Brown, a political science professor at George Washington University.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on Gaza in 2007 after Hamas took control of the territory, saying the restrictions are needed to stop arms smuggling. Human rights groups and NGOs contend the blockade amounts to collective punishment and is illegal under international law.
Humanitarian situation in Gaza
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deteriorated since the Israel–Hamas war that began after Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. While a ceasefire was declared on October 25, Israeli strikes have continued to cause numerous Palestinian casualties. UN officials and others have accused Israel of war crimes, including claims of ethnic cleansing and deliberate starvation, and warned of possible genocide and famine. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports more than 72,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023, including at least 21,000 children.
Edited by: Alex Berry