The Global Sumud Flotilla reported that 31 international activists were injured during the Israeli naval interception of the humanitarian fleet that was sailing toward the Gaza Strip last Thursday in an effort to challenge the ongoing blockade.
Israeli authorities announced that naval forces had seized the vessels in international waters and transferred those on board to detention facilities inside Israel.
In a detailed statement, flotilla organizers said the injured activists included four participants each from New Zealand and Australia, three from Italy and the United States, and two from Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Britain, Colombia, and Germany.
🚨 URGENT: GSF PARTICIPANTS BRUTALIZED BY IOF AFTER 40 HOURS AT SEA 🚨
Global Sumud Flotilla participants have just survived 40 hours of calculated cruelty aboard an iOF navy vessel in Greek waters.
They were denied adequate food and water. They were forced to sleep on floors… pic.twitter.com/FAlM0SZfHR
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) May 1, 2026
Additional injuries were reported among activists from Hungary, Ukraine, France, Poland, and Portugal. One of the wounded holds dual Turkish‑German citizenship, while efforts remain underway to confirm the identities of three additional participants.
A separate statement said that activists who were taken into custody were subjected to harsh treatment aboard an Israeli naval vessel for nearly 40 hours.
According to the flotilla, detainees were not provided adequate food or water, were forced to sleep on a floor deliberately soaked with water and were kept under restrictive conditions throughout the transfer process.
The flotilla added that Israeli forces used physical force against participants who attempted to prevent the abduction of Saif Abu Kishk, a Palestinian‑origin activist holding Spanish citizenship, and Brazilian activist Tiago Ávila.
Signs of torture appear on activists Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila, members of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s steering committee, who were abducted by the Israeli navy in international waters off Greece.
Abu Keshek is a Palestinian Spanish activist. Israel claims he is… pic.twitter.com/ThR32an38J
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) May 2, 2026
Testimonies collected by the organizers described beatings, kicking, and dragging, with one participant stating that he believed his nose and ribs were broken and that activists were “kicked, punched, dragged on the floor,” while hearing gunfire used as intimidation.
On Thursday, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that 175 activists had been detained after the navy seized more than 20 boats in international waters as they sailed toward Gaza carrying humanitarian supplies.
Maritime‑law specialists and humanitarian organizations have noted that intercepting civilian vessels in international waters raises legal concerns, particularly when the ships are unarmed and engaged in humanitarian work.
We were kidnapped by israelis in int’l seas because they say they own the Mediterranean, says #GlobalSumudFlotilla member, Suayb Ordu pic.twitter.com/sG2ZuIpZrf
— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) May 2, 2026
The flotilla—known as the “Spring Mission 2026”—departed from the Italian island of Sicily on Sunday after completing final preparations. Organizers said the mission aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and to challenge the blockade, which international agencies, including the United Nations, have repeatedly described as a form of collective punishment.
Flotilla officials reported that Israeli forces seized 21 boats during the assault, while 17 vessels reached Greek territorial waters, where they were met by local authorities. Another 14 boats were still en route toward Greek waters at the time of the statement.
Activists from the Global Sumud flotilla, who were released by Israel after being abducted by the Israeli navy and beaten, are calling for freedom for Thiago Avila and Saif Abu Keshk, who are still in Israeli detention pic.twitter.com/BKUg7bYEHx
— الـشـبـ𓂆ـراوي #غـزَّة (@M_shebrawy3) May 1, 2026
This mission is the second major initiative by the Global Sumud Flotilla. The first, launched in September 2025, ended in October of that year when Israeli naval forces intercepted the vessels in international waters, detaining hundreds of international activists before beginning deportation procedures. Human‑rights organizations at the time criticized the operation, citing violations of maritime law and the use of excessive force.
🚨BREAKING: Israeli Navy Intervenes with Global Sumud Flotilla‼️
Mediterranean Sea / April 30, 2026The Israeli Navy has begun intervening with the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters. The flotilla is heading to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and break the blockade.… pic.twitter.com/KN3kSTfluT
— Gaza Notifications (@gazanotice) April 29, 2026
Humanitarian groups monitoring the current mission expressed concern over the latest incident, noting that the flotilla was carrying medical supplies, food, and other essential items intended for civilians in Gaza, where UN agencies continue to warn of severe shortages and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The flotilla organizers said they will continue to pursue legal avenues and international advocacy, emphasizing that their objective remains to challenge the blockade and deliver humanitarian assistance to a population facing prolonged deprivation.
