Israeli forces intercepted and boarded several boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla on Wednesday, seizing foreign activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and redirecting them to an Israeli port. The flotilla, made up of over 40 vessels and nearly 500 activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers, was attempting to deliver medicine and food to Gaza in defiance of Israel’s long-standing naval blockade.
Video footage released by Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed Thunberg was among those detained, surrounded by soldiers on deck. Officials stated the passengers were “safe and healthy,” while flotilla organizers denounced the operation as a “war crime,” claiming the Israeli navy used water cannons and aggressive tactics in international waters. They further alleged that one ship, the Maria Cristina, was nearly sunk, though these reports remain unverified.
The raid sparked immediate international backlash. Turkey condemned the operation as an “act of terror,” while protests erupted in Italy. Spain and Ireland also voiced deep concern for the activists’ safety. Italy and Greece urged the flotilla to hand its aid to the Catholic Church for indirect delivery to Gaza, a proposal the organizers rejected.
According to ship tracking data, at least nine vessels were intercepted. Earlier in the week, flotilla boats reported drone attacks involving stun grenades and itching powder. Despite mounting obstacles, organizers vowed to continue their mission, insisting their goal was to break Israel’s blockade, which they and UN experts call illegal under international law.
Israel, however, maintains its blockade is a necessary security measure against Hamas, citing the ongoing war that erupted after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Past attempts to challenge the blockade have ended in deadly confrontations, most notably in 2010 when nine activists were killed during a similar mission.
The latest incident underscores the intensifying global spotlight on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, as activists and governments clash over how aid should be delivered.