ISLAMABAD: Israeli naval forces intercepted an international aid flotilla bound for the besieged Gaza Strip, detaining more than 450 activists from 42 boats, flotilla organizers confirmed.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said the convoy was “illegally intercepted” in international waters and its passengers “unlawfully abducted” as they attempted to challenge Israel’s years-long blockade of Gaza. The ships, carrying humanitarian supplies, had set sail in late August in what activists described as the largest civilian maritime mission to Gaza in years.
According to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG), one vessel, Marinette, remains at sea but is still far from Gaza after delays caused by technical malfunctions. The rest of the flotilla — participants from 47 countries, including Spain, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, the U.S., and the U.K. — was towed to Ashdod Port in southern Israel, from where detainees will be deported.
Israeli broadcaster KAN reported the overnight operation lasted 12 hours and involved more than 20 naval vessels. Activists accused Israeli forces of using water cannons, ramming ships, and “brutally mistreating peaceful detainees.”
Despite appeals from the UN and Amnesty International warning against interference, Israel vowed to prevent any vessel from breaching its blockade.
The flotilla came within 80 nautical miles (148 km) of Gaza before the raid. Livestreams showed activists wearing life jackets as Israeli boats surrounded the convoy.
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza’s 2.4 million residents for nearly 18 years, a siege further tightened in March. Since October 2023, Israeli bombardments have killed more than 66,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza health authorities.
