Israeli naval forces seized at least 28 boats from the Gaza‑bound Freedom Flotilla on Monday, in what organizers described as a violent interception carried out in international waters against an unarmed humanitarian mission.
Shortly before communications were cut, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition issued an SOS stating that Israeli occupation forces had surrounded the fleet and begun boarding the vessels.
“Our fleet is currently being intercepted by IOF forces,” the organizers said. “We reject the normalization of genocide, siege, starvation, and piracy against peaceful civilians.”
“Flag states under whose jurisdiction our boats are registered have an obligation to protect those vessels and prosecute acts of piracy in their courts. We are outraged by the normalization of these violations of international maritime law and the kidnapping of peaceful civilians in international waters,” Global Sumud Flotilla said, “We demand the immediate release of our participants, the safe passage of our entire fleet, and an end to the illegal siege of Gaza.”
🚨 SOS – Jish (Gotico) Intercepted
SOS: the israeli occupation has again illegally and violently intercepted our international fleet of humanitarian vessels and abducted our volunteers as they undertake a legitimate mission to break the illegal siege on Gaza and open a… pic.twitter.com/ZEWxKWlFaI
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) May 18, 2026
A second message reported that volunteers had been “abducted” and that the attack constituted an illegal act of piracy under international maritime law. The coalition demanded the immediate release of all participants and the safe passage of the entire fleet.
The Jerusalem Post confirmed in its live updates that Israeli naval units had boarded multiple Turkish‑organized vessels and that the operation was ongoing.
Several boats lost contact shortly after the SOS was issued, and the number of detained participants remains unknown.
No injuries have been confirmed, and Israeli authorities have not released details about where the seized boats are being taken.
Today’s interception is the second major attack on the flotilla in less than three weeks. On April 29–30, Israeli naval forces intercepted 22 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla near Crete, detaining dozens of activists and towing the boats to Ashdod.
Two flotilla leaders — Palestinian activist Saif Abu Keshek, 44, and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, 39 — were taken to Shikma Prison in Ashkelon, where they launched a hunger strike to protest their detention. Their hearings were repeatedly extended.
Following that earlier interception, approximately 30 vessels regrouped and sailed to Turkey, where flotilla representatives convened in the port city of Marmaris to update their legal strategy and operational plans.
RED ALERT!
Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IOF forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight.
We demand safe passage for our legal, non-violent humanitarian mission. Governments must act now to stop these illegal acts or piracy meant to… pic.twitter.com/4RmPuswZNo
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) May 18, 2026
According to the Jerusalem Post, representatives from more than 50 countries were expected to attend the meetings, underscoring the international scope of the mission and the broad support for efforts to break the blockade on Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition describes its mission as a peaceful, civilian effort to challenge Israel’s siege on Gaza and deliver urgently needed humanitarian supplies, including medical equipment and water‑purification systems.
The coalition maintains that its vessels are unarmed, inspected, and operating fully within international maritime law.
Organizers say the repeated interception of civilian ships in international waters amounts to piracy, kidnapping, and a violation of multiple international conventions.
