Gaza flotilla intercepted in international waters near Greece, activists report

Activists on the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli forces intercepted their boats overnight near Greece. The activists said engines were smashed and some people were detained. The group said the vessels were in international waters, over 1,000 kilometres from Gaza. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said about 175 activists were being taken to Israel.

Representative image

The flotilla set sail earlier this month from Barcelona and headed east across the Mediterranean. Organisers said more than 70 boats and 1,000 people worldwide would take part. A tracker on the group’s website said 22 vessels were intercepted west of Crete. It said another 36 boats were still sailing by midday on Thursday.

Global Sumud Flotilla interception near Greece

The Global Sumud Flotilla described the operation as an escalation and demanded action. "Israels actions … mark a dangerous and unprecedented escalation, the abduction of civilians in the middle of the Mediterranean, over 600 miles from Gaza, in full view of the world,\" the group said in a press release. The group also said communications were jammed during the interception.

In a social media post, the group said forces boarded and disabled boats in international waters. It said engines were smashed and navigation arrays were destroyed. The group said forces then withdrew and left civilians on powerless vessels. It said the boats were in the path of a large approaching storm.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the specific accusations. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said early action was needed under international law. Marmorstein said the operation happened peacefully in international waters. Marmorstein also said there were no casualties during the operation.

Marmorstein accused Hamas in Gaza of driving the flotilla. Marmorstein said the aim was to sabotage US President Donald Trumps peace plan transition. Marmorstein said it was meant to divert attention from Hamas refusal to disarm. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said more than 20 boats were involved in the action.

Global Sumud Flotilla draws diplomatic responses

Turkey’s foreign ministry called the seizure an act of piracy. \"By targeting the Global Sumud Flotilla, whose mission is to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the innocent people of Gaza, Israel has also violated humanitarian principles and international law,\" the ministry said. Spokesman Oncu Keceli said Hakan Fidan spoke by phone with Jose Manuel Albares Bueno.

Spain’s ministry of foreign affairs summoned the Israeli charge d’affaires in Madrid. Spain said it was condemning the detention of the flotilla. Spain said Spanish citizens were among those detained. Italy and Germany said they were monitoring events with great concern. They urged respect for international law and restraint from irresponsible actions.

Hamas also condemned the interception in a Telegram post. Hamas accused Israel of committing a crime without accountability. Hamas called for the release of those detained. Activists in Greece said they planned a protest rally on Thursday afternoon. They said it would be outside the Greek foreign ministry in Athens.

Greek activists said the interception happened in a maritime zone under Greece’s search and rescue responsibility. They also said the Greek coast guard did not react. Israel and Egypt have imposed different levels of blockade on Gaza since 2007. Israel says the blockade stops Hamas importing arms. Critics say it is collective punishment of Gaza’s Palestinian population.

Global Sumud Flotilla and earlier attempts to breach the Gaza blockade

The attempt came less than a year after a previous effort was stopped by Israeli authorities. That earlier mission involved about 50 vessels and around 500 activists. It included Greta Thunberg, Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers. Israel arrested, detained and later deported participants. Activists alleged abuse in detention, which Israel denied.

That earlier case raised legal questions about enforcing a blockade in international waters. Several world leaders and human rights groups condemned Israel at the time. Other efforts have also failed. In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Turkish boat Mavi Marmara. Nine Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American were killed.

The last time an activist boat reached Gaza was in 2008. A fragile six month-old ceasefire has halted the worst fighting in Gaza. Yet Israeli attacks have killed more than 790 people, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. The ministry is part of the Hamas-led government. UN agencies and experts often view its records as generally reliable.

The health ministry does not separate civilians from militants in its figures. It said 72,300 Palestinians had been killed since the war began. The war started after the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. Militants killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians. Around 2 million Gaza residents still face ruin and shortages of food and medicine.

Only limited aid enters through a single Israeli-controlled border post. Flotilla organisers said the mission aimed to highlight living conditions in Gaza. They also said attention had shifted towards the US and Israel’s war against Iran. The tracker and official statements continued to be monitored on Thursday as boats remained at sea.

With inputs from PTI