Israel has intercepted an aid flotilla bound for Gaza in international waters near Greece, detaining 175 activists. Officials state that enforcing the blockade is critical to prevent weapons shipments to the region.
The Israeli navy intercepted 22 ships and apprehended 175 activists affiliated with the Global Sumud Flotilla, marking the largest humanitarian fleet directed towards Gaza to date.
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The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the interception took place overnight in international waters near Crete and noted that drugs were discovered on some vessels.
According to the mission’s live tracker, over 20 ships have been stopped so far, while more than 30 continue to sail, with several entering Greek territorial waters seeking to evade interception. The detainees include activists from multiple countries, with a large number being Italian and Spanish nationals.
Those aboard reported that Israeli forces approached using speedboats and drones, disrupting communication systems and compelling the ships to cease movement. An SOS alert was issued during these events.
The majority of the seized ships have been confiscated, their crews detained and transferred onto Israeli naval vessels, as stated by Tariq Ra’ouf, an activist on a vessel still at sea, who communicated with Euronews.
Ra’ouf also mentioned that some ships were disabled through engine sabotage and subsequently left adrift. «The crew was abandoned at sea shortly before a severe storm was forecasted,» he remarked.
Mission organisers labelled the interception illegal, maintaining that it occurred in international waters and targeted vessels transporting humanitarian supplies. Although some form of intervention was expected, the timing surprised them. «It is striking how far we have been from Gaza,» Ra’ouf added.
Israel has justified the operation citing security concerns.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the mission as a «PR stunt» and «a provocation lacking humanitarian aid,» emphasizing that all humanitarian efforts in Gaza should be coordinated by the Board of Peace and Israel’s Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC).
Authorities reported that roughly 175 activists detained from the flotilla are being transported to Israel. They also shared video evidence of condoms and small packets allegedly containing drugs found onboard.
Previously, Israeli officials have defended such actions in international waters, claiming they have the right to act to prevent vessels from reaching restricted zones.
Similar flotilla attempts have been stopped before. In October 2025, scores of ships were seized and hundreds of activists detained, sparking widespread protests across Europe.
The European Commission urged adherence to international law concerning freedom of navigation and called on Israel to respect humanitarian and maritime regulations.
Nevertheless, the Commission’s spokesperson refrained from directly condemning the interception or characterizing it as a violation of international law — reflecting the EU’s cautious stance to avoid direct confrontation with Israel over the incident. The Commission has earlier discouraged such flotilla missions, citing the risks posed to participants.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has instructed Italian embassies in Tel Aviv and Athens to seek explanations from Israeli and Greek authorities and to ensure protection for Italian nationals involved.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard reported she contacted her Israeli counterpart to underline the necessity of safeguarding the rights of detained Swedish citizens, while recognizing the government’s limited capacity to intervene.
«Choosing to join the flotilla as a Swedish citizen involves accepting a deliberate risk,» she stated.