Israel has intercepted a pro-Palestinian flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, with the majority of vessels stopped by the Israeli navy approximately 75 nautical miles off the coast. However, one vessel, the Mikeno, reportedly evaded the blockade and entered Palestinian territorial waters before contact was lost.
This marks the closest an unauthorised aid mission has come to Gaza since Israel imposed its naval blockade in 2009. The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that “one last boat of the provocation remains in the distance,” adding that any attempt to breach the blockade would be prevented.
The Global Sumud flotilla comprised over 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 individuals, including parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists. Among them was Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, who was filmed surrounded by Israeli soldiers aboard the lead vessel, Alma. In a video posted shortly before the interception, Thunberg stated: “We are about to be intercepted by Israel.”
Thunberg and other activists were subsequently detained and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The Israeli foreign ministry announced plans to deport all those involved.
Activists aboard the flotilla shared videos on Telegram, claiming they had been abducted and taken to Israel against their will. They reiterated that their mission was peaceful and humanitarian in nature.
The flotilla was sailing in international waters north of Egypt when it entered what has been described as a “high risk zone”, an area where previous attempts to breach the blockade have been halted. At approximately 7.25pm, around 20 Israeli naval vessels approached and ordered the boats to cut their engines. Live footage showed passengers wearing lifejackets and seated in a semi-circle as they awaited interception. The broadcast was cut shortly thereafter.
A statement on the flotilla’s Instagram page read: “Our vessels are being illegally intercepted. Cameras are offline and vessels have been boarded by military personnel. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all participants onboard.”
Footage aired by Sky Italia showed activists being sprayed with high-pressure water jets. Loud bangs, believed to be stun grenades dropped from drones, were also reported.
Among those arrested were nine Irish citizens, including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews, two Italian MPs, and French MEP Emma Fourreau. The raid prompted spontaneous protests in Italy, as well as demonstrations in Brussels, Athens, Buenos Aires, and Berlin.
Spain’s deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, condemned the interception as “a crime against international law” and urged the European Union to sever ties with Israel. Spain’s foreign ministry described the flotilla as a “peaceful and humanitarian civil society initiative” and called for the rights and safety of Spanish citizens on board to be respected. The ministry reiterated Spain’s commitment to ending the war in Gaza, facilitating humanitarian aid, securing the release of Israeli hostages, and implementing a two-state solution.
The British Foreign Office expressed concern over the incident, stating it was in contact with families of British nationals involved. It urged that the aid be handed over to humanitarian organisations for safe delivery into Gaza.
Turkey’s foreign ministry labelled the interception “an act of terror” that endangered civilian lives.
Israel’s blockade of Gaza, intensified in 2009 following Hamas’s takeover of the territory, has been repeatedly condemned by the United Nations as a violation of international law. Legal experts remain divided over its legitimacy. Professor Yuval Shany of Hebrew University argued that if the blockade is militarily justified to prevent weapons smuggling, Israel is permitted to intercept vessels after issuing warnings.
Activists maintain that their mission was unarmed and civilian, and that international law guarantees the passage of humanitarian aid. Previous attempts to breach the blockade have ended in violence, most notably in 2010 when Israeli commandos killed ten Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara.
