Israeli naval forces have intercepted at least 19 vessels from the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” a civilian convoy carrying foreign activists and humanitarian aid bound for Gaza. The attack occurred in international waters, approximately 70 nautical miles off the coast, and involved masked commandos, drones, water cannons, and electronic jamming. Despite the blockade, 24 boats remain at sea, continuing their course toward the besieged enclave.
Footage shared by Al-Jazeera Arabic and confirmed by multiple outlets shows Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg aboard one of the vessels, surrounded by Israeli soldiers.
Other detainees include former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, Portuguese MP Mariana Mortágua, and journalists from Colombia, Spain, and Australia. El País and Descifrando la Guerra have confirmed the detention of their correspondents.
The flotilla, composed of over 40 civilian boats and more than 500 participants, was transporting symbolic humanitarian cargo—primarily food and medical supplies.
Organizers emphasized the peaceful nature of the mission, rejecting Israeli claims that the convoy was affiliated with militant groups.
Videos posted on social media show passengers holding up passports and declaring they were forcibly taken to Israel against their will.
Israel’s government has labeled the convoy “the Hamas-Sumud flotilla,” asserting that it violates the naval blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007. Organizers counter that the blockade itself is illegal under international law and that their mission is a direct challenge to the impunity surrounding Israel’s deadly siege and the ongoing genocide.
The flotilla has triggered a wave of diplomatic and public backlash. Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled the entire Israeli diplomatic mission after two Colombian nationals were detained, calling the arrests a “new international crime.”
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned the operation, stating that eight Malaysians were among those held and accusing Israel of “total contempt for global conscience.”
Protests erupted across Europe and the Middle East in response to the interception. Demonstrators flooded the streets of Rome, Milan, Naples, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Istanbul, Tunis, and Athens.
In Italy, major labor unions declared a general strike in solidarity, while student groups occupied train stations and university campuses. France 24 reported that French and Spanish officials demanded consular access and safety guarantees for their nationals.
Countries including Turkey, Spain, and Italy had reportedly prepared support vessels or drones to assist their nationals in case of emergency.
Some boats briefly regained Starlink access when distancing from Israeli vessels, allowing organizers to post updates and pre-recorded alerts. Anadolu Agency confirmed that Turkish drones were monitoring the situation.
BREAK THE SIEGE. #GlobalSumudFilotilla
track them here: https://t.co/IPh2roBBMH pic.twitter.com/vZqLYDcirl
— Mondoweiss (@Mondoweiss) October 2, 2025
The flotilla’s official website has faced accessibility issues, with reports of cyber interference and security flags. Media watchdogs such as Reporters Without Borders condemned the detention of journalists aboard the convoy, demanding immediate consular access and guarantees of safety.
This latest confrontation echoes the deadly 2010 raid on the Mavi Marmara, when Israeli forces killed nine activists aboard a six-ship convoy carrying aid and supporters from 50 countries.
🚨 BREAKING: GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA Leader Thiago Avila WRECKS IDF Soldier
Israel is threatening to confiscate their boats https://t.co/q6cSi8Eatd pic.twitter.com/TWZrEv1233
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) October 1, 2025
Since then, Israel has repeatedly intercepted civilian vessels attempting to breach the blockade, often detaining and deporting participants.
The broader context remains dire. Since October 7, 2023, the ongoing genocide in Gaza have resulted in the killing of over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, with more than 168,000 injured. Thousands remain trapped under rubble, with emergency crews unable to reach them due to ongoing hostilities.
As the remaining boats press forward, the Global Sumud Flotilla has become a flashpoint for international solidarity, legal scrutiny, and renewed calls to end the blockade and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Your visibility is the only guarantee of the Flotilla’s safety. Keep watching — you are their hope and protection pic.twitter.com/4SohZL8ls4
— Global Sumud Flotilla Commentary (@GlobalSumudF) October 1, 2025
