Israeli forces stopped 13 boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza, while 30 other vessels continued sailing towards the war-ravaged enclave on Thursday, Reuters reported quoting flotilla organisers.
A video released by Israel’s foreign ministry and verified by Reuters showed Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg surrounded by soldiers on the deck of a boat. The ministry said on X that “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy” after several vessels from what it called the “Hamas-Sumud flotilla” were diverted to an Israeli port.
The Global Sumud Flotilla set out with more than 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, along with medicine and food for Gaza. Organisers said their mission was non-violent and humanitarian. They shared videos on Telegram of passengers holding passports and claiming Israeli forces abducted them and took them to Israel against their will.
Despite Wednesday’s interceptions, the flotilla remains defiant. Tracking data showed 30 boats still en route to Gaza, about 46 nautical miles away on Thursday morning. Organisers described the raid as a “war crime”, accusing Israeli forces of using water cannons, scrambling communications and intercepting vessels in international waters.
The mission has drawn global attention as one of the most high-profile challenges to Israel’s blockade of Gaza since 2007. Turkey, Spain and Italy deployed boats or drones to assist their nationals. Turkey called Israel’s action “an act of terror”.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s entire diplomatic mission and cancelled a free trade agreement after two Colombians were detained, calling the arrests a “new international crime” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Israeli forces had detained eight Malaysians and accused Israel of showing “utter contempt” for global conscience.
The raid also triggered street protests in Italy and Colombia, where Italian unions announced a general strike in solidarity.
Israel defended the operation, saying it had warned the flotilla that it was entering an active combat zone and violating a lawful blockade.
The confrontation follows earlier clashes at sea, including the 2010 raid in which nine activists were killed, and a June 2025 incident when Thunberg and others were detained by Israel while approaching Gaza.