Israel intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla, arresting 175 activists

Published on 30/04/2026 - 12:30 GMT+2

Israeli naval forces person intercepted much than 20 ships and arrested 175 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest-ever humanitarian ngo bound for Gaza.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the overnight interception, successful planetary waters adjacent Crete, adding that drugs had been recovered connected board.

Over 20 vessels person been intercepted truthful far, according to the mission’s tracker, portion much than 30 are inactive navigating and person entered Greek territorial waters to debar interception. Activists detained successful the cognition are from respective countries, with galore Italians and Spaniards among them.

Those connected committee said Israeli forces utilized speedboats and drones to attack the vessels, disrupting communications and forcing them to halt. An SOS awesome was issued arsenic the concern unfolded.

Most of the intercepted vessels person been seized, with their crews detained and transferred onto Israeli ships, according to Tariq Ra’ouf, an activistic aboard 1 of the vessels inactive astatine sea, who spoke to Euronews.

He claimed that immoderate vessels were alternatively disabled by motor sabotage and near stranded. “The unit was abandoned astatine oversea conscionable earlier a monolithic tempest was owed to arrive,” helium said.

Organisers of the ngo described the interception arsenic unlawful, arguing that it took spot successful planetary waters and targeted vessels carrying humanitarian aid. While activists had anticipated immoderate signifier of intervention, the timing came arsenic a surprise. “It is astonishing however acold we are from Gaza,” Ra’ouf added.

Israel has defended the cognition arsenic indispensable for information reasons.

Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the ngo is “a PR stunt” and “a provocation without humanitarian aid”, saying that each the humanitarian enactment successful Gaza should beryllium managed by the Board of Peace and Israel’s Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC).

Authorities said astir 175 activists detained from the boats are being transferred to Israel. They besides released video footage showing condoms and tiny bags allegedly containing drugs, which they said were recovered connected board.

Israeli officials person antecedently defended specified interceptions successful planetary waters, arguing they are entitled to enactment earlier vessels scope restricted zones.

Similar flotilla attempts person been stopped successful the past. In October 2025, dozens of vessels were seized and hundreds of activists detained, triggering wide protests crossed Europe.

Following the latest interception, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani instructed Italy’s embassies successful Tel Aviv and Athens to question clarification from Israeli and Greek authorities and to guarantee the extortion of Italian citizens connected board.