Gaza aid flotilla activists taken to Iraklio airport for repatriation

Vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted connected planetary waters by the Israeli Navy, sail disconnected the metropolis of Ierapetra, connected the land of Crete, Greece, May 1, 2026. [Reuters/Stefanos Rapanis]

Greek authorities said activists from the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” who were brought to Crete earlier Friday aft Israeli forces intercepted their vessels successful planetary waters, are being transferred to Iraklio airdrome for repatriation procedures. About 30 injured participants were taken to Sitia Hospital for aesculapian treatment.

The activists were ‌part of a 2nd Global Sumud flotilla, launched successful caller months successful an effort to interruption Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance. The ships acceptable sail from the Spanish larboard of Barcelona connected April 12.

On Friday, an Israeli service vessel transferred 168 members of the ​flotilla unit to Greek boats, which then took them to enactment where buses and an ambulance waited for them, organizers ​said and Reuters footage showed.

Israel’s overseas ministry called the flotilla organizers “professional provocateurs”.

Two activistic held

The organizers ⁠said two activists remained with Israeli authorities.

Spain’s overseas minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said 30 Spaniards had arrived successful Crete but ​one Spanish national, Saif Abu Keshek, had been “illegally” arrested and was being taken to Israel.

“We request his contiguous release,” ​he said.

Israel’s overseas ministry said Abu Keshek was suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and, on with a 2nd activistic suspected of amerciable activity, would beryllium taken to Israel for questioning.

“Israel will not let the breach of the lawful naval blockade connected Gaza,” the ​foreign ministry said.

Germany and Italy’s overseas ministries issued a associated statement saying they were pursuing developments with “deep concern”.

A source ​who asked not to beryllium identified said that while 22 boats had been intercepted by Israel, 47 others were still sailing disconnected ‌southern Crete ⁠and planned to anchor there astatine some constituent earlier continuing onwards to Gaza. Each vessel is carrying astir a ton of food, aesculapian and different equipment, the source said.

The 22 vessels were seized by Israel precocious connected Wednesday successful planetary waters disconnected Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, which is hundreds of miles from Gaza, the flotilla’s organizers said.

In a statement connected ​Thursday, the US State Department ​threatened “to enforce consequences” against ⁠those who support the flotilla, which it formed arsenic pro-Hamas.

Pro-Palestinian activists accidental Israel and the US wrongly conflate their advocacy for Palestinian rights arsenic support for Hamas extremists.

Last October ​Israel’s subject halted a erstwhile flotilla assembled by the aforesaid organisation, arresting Swedish activistic Greta ​Thunberg and much ⁠than 450 participants. That followed different seaborne attempts to scope blockaded Gaza.

Palestinians and planetary assistance bodies accidental supplies reaching Gaza are still insufficient, contempt a ceasefire reached successful October that included guarantees of accrued aid.

Most of Gaza’s much than 2 cardinal ⁠people person ​been displaced, galore present surviving successful bombed-out homes and makeshift tents pitched connected ​open ground, roadsides, oregon atop the ruins of destroyed buildings.

Israel, which controls each entree to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for its residents. [Kathimerini/Reuters]