The sea turned tense this week as Israeli forces intercepted 14 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla—a mission carrying food, medicine, and hundreds of activists determined to reach war-ravaged Gaza.
Among those stopped was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, seen in a video surrounded by Israeli soldiers as she sat quietly on a ship’s deck. Israel confirmed the passengers were being safely transferred to port, stressing they were “healthy and safe.”
But the flotilla’s organizers painted a very different picture. They accused Israel of piracy and war crimes, saying passengers were forcibly taken against their will despite the mission being non-violent and purely humanitarian.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of over 40 civilian boats carrying more than 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists, is one of the boldest efforts yet to challenge Israel’s 17-year blockade of Gaza. And even after the interception, 23 boats continue to sail toward Gaza, defying Israeli warnings.
Worldwide Outrage
The interceptions have ignited international backlash.
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Turkey branded Israel’s actions an “act of terror” and launched a legal probe after 24 Turkish citizens were detained.
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Colombia went further, expelling Israel’s entire diplomatic mission and tearing up its free trade agreement, after two Colombians were taken. President Gustavo Petro accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing a “new international crime.”
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Malaysia condemned the detention of eight of its citizens, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declaring Israel had shown “utter contempt not only for the rights of Palestinians but also for the conscience of the world.”
Protests erupted in Italy and Colombia, while Italian labor unions even called for a general strike in solidarity with the flotilla.
Israel Defends Its Move
Israel insists the flotilla’s real aim is provocation, not aid. Officials said the activists refused offers to deliver supplies through established humanitarian channels.
“By refusing to hand over the aid, they show this is not humanitarian but political,” Israeli ambassador to Italy Jonathan Peled argued.
The navy had warned the boats they were entering an “active combat zone” and violating a lawful blockade. The flotilla was intercepted around 70 nautical miles from Gaza, with reports of aggressive tactics like water cannons, though no injuries were confirmed.
A Long History of Sea Confrontations
Attempts to break Israel’s blockade by sea are not new. In 2010, nine activists were killed when Israeli forces stormed a flotilla of six ships. More recently, in June, Thunberg herself was detained aboard another aid boat headed for Gaza.
Israel has maintained a strict naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, after Hamas seized control of the enclave. But the ongoing war—triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 taken hostage—has intensified scrutiny.
Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 65,000 people have been killed in Israel’s offensive, leaving much of the territory in ruins.
The Voyage Continues
Despite the risks, flotilla organizers vow to press on. “These are repeated acts of piracy in violation of international law,” one group declared, urging governments to protect their nationals onboard.
And while 14 boats have been stopped, 23 still push forward across the Mediterranean—carrying hope, defiance, and a message to the world that Gaza should not be forgotten.
