ISLAMABAD: The Global Sumud Flotilla, sailing to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, announced early Wednesday that its vessels are now less than 150 nautical miles (277 kilometers) from the territory.
“Only 144 nautical miles remain. We entered the high-risk zone 6 miles ago,” said Wael Naouar, spokesperson for the flotilla’s Maghreb fleet, in a post on Facebook. He reported intensified drone activity and heavy jamming of internet and radio communications.
“All are prepared for the moment of interception, whether tonight or tomorrow,” Naouar added.
Drones and Naval Presence Reported
Al Jazeera correspondents on board said reconnaissance drones were flying overhead at medium altitude, while Turkish activist Muhammed Salih confirmed spotting an Israeli Navy vessel about 80 kilometers (50 miles) away.
“We were already expecting an Israeli interception or attack this evening or tomorrow night,” Salih said in a video posted to Instagram. “Everyone has put on their life jackets and is waiting ready on deck.”
The flotilla organizers urged international monitoring, warning: “Our safety depends on the world watching.”
Global Appeal for Solidarity
In a joint statement, the organizers called the mission “an attack on the blockade itself,” urging workers and activists worldwide to mobilize in solidarity. “An attack on the flotilla is an attack on Palestine,” the statement read.
The ships are carrying humanitarian aid and international activists in a renewed effort to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Living conditions in the enclave have deteriorated sharply, with severe shortages of food, medicine, and electricity.
Mass rallies in support of the flotilla are expected in several countries, according to activist networks.
Israel Vows to Block Flotilla
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported that the flotilla had already entered Israel’s designated interception zone. Naval forces are preparing to seize the vessels, transfer passengers to a warship, and tow the boats to the port of Ashdod.
Officials, citing political directives, said under no circumstances would the flotilla be allowed to reach Gaza. Some reports suggested there was a possibility the vessels might be deliberately sunk.
Israel has not publicly commented on the flotilla in recent hours.
Doctors and Journalists on Board
The International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza confirmed that one of the ships, Al-Dhamir (“The Conscience”), has been designated for international doctors and journalists. It departed recently from Otranto, Italy.
The flotilla set sail at the end of August and early September, in what organizers described as the first large-scale maritime challenge to the blockade in years. Dozens of boats are now involved.
The last major flotilla attempt was in 2010, when Israeli forces stormed the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, killing 10 activists and triggering global outrage.
Gaza’s Humanitarian Catastrophe
Gaza, home to 2.4 million Palestinians, has been under blockade since 2007. Israel tightened restrictions further in March 2025 by closing all crossings and blocking the entry of food and medical supplies, leaving the enclave on the brink of famine.
Since October 2023, the Israeli military offensive has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians—most of them women and children—according to Gaza’s health authorities. The bombardment has rendered the territory largely uninhabitable, with widespread starvation and disease.
The flotilla’s organizers say their mission is not only to deliver aid but to spotlight what they call “a genocide unfolding before the world’s eyes.”
