Israeli occupation forces arrested hundreds of international activists on Monday and Tuesday, after intercepting dozens of ships sailing with the “Global Steadfastness Flotilla” in international waters.
Media sources reported that beginning on Monday, occupation forces began an operation to seize control of the “Global Steadfastness Flotilla” off the coast of Cyprus in international waters.
Israeli media reported that a Navy ship intercepted dozens of boats and kidnapped hundreds of international activists, transferring them to the port of Ashdod.
بعد اعتقال مئات الناشطين… البحرية الإسرائيلية تلاحق ما تبقى من "أسطول الصمود"
للتفاصيل: https://t.co/tf3lXbtjIN pic.twitter.com/tvKpUO8j0s— موقع عرب 48 (@arab48website) May 19, 2026
According to a member of the Steadfastness Flotilla, Abdul Rahman Al-Kahlout reported that the soldiers kidnapped 345 internationals from 39 boats, adding that 9 boats continued their mission to break the siege on Gaza.
Rouhi Fattouh, the Chairman of the Palestinian National Council stated that the Israeli forces’ piracy of the Global Steadfastness Flotilla ships in international waters and the arrest of its international activists, constitutes a flagrant crime in violation of International Humanitarian Law.
Fattouh said that Israeli is using the Mediterranean Sea as its own military zone for carrying out state-sponsored terrorism.
He added that the occupation has criminalized humanitarian efforts aimed at providing essential aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, exposing its hostile nature.
Furthermore, Israeli sources reported that a naval commando “Shayetet 13” unit in naval vessels seized 41 boats and ships participating in the humanitarian mission.
The “Global Steadfastness Flotilla” set sail on May 14 from the Turkish city of Marmaris with the participation of 54 boats, and activists from 40 countries.
In a post on X on Monday, Amnesty International said Israel is “once again using military force to stop solidarity activists from delivering aid to the occupied Gaza Strip, all while continuing to commit genocide and inflict immense suffering on Palestinian civilians there.”
🚨Once again, #Israel is using military force to stop solidarity activists from delivering aid to the occupied #Gaza Strip, all while continuing to commit #genocide and inflict immense suffering on Palestinian civilians there.
🚨Israel's cruel and shameless determination to… pic.twitter.com/bqBLE7XViH
— Amnesty MENA (@AmnestyMENA) May 18, 2026
The organization warned of “Israel’s cruel and shameless determination to crush solidarity efforts with Palestinians is aimed at tightening the grip of its unlawful blockade and isolating Gaza from the rest of humanity,” adding that “cutting off essential supplies to civilians under occupation is a war crime.”
Israeli forces intercepted ships from the “Steadfastness Fleet” heading to Gaza from Turkiye and detained activists on board.#Gaza#FreedomFlotilla pic.twitter.com/JzXEP7e4K1
— Al-Estiklal English (@alestiklalen) May 18, 2026
In a statement, the Adalah Center for Human Rights demanded that its legal teams be allowed immediate access to the “Steadfastness Flotilla” activists detained by Israeli occupation authorities, and that their location and the conditions of their detention be disclosed following the interception of dozens of ships.
The center added that its legal teams arrived at the port of Ashdod demanding information on the condition and location of the detainees, and demanding lawyers immediate access for legal representation.
