Activists, including Greta Thunberg, detained by Israeli military on Gaza aid ships
The Israeli military intercepted multiple boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) heading towards Gaza to deliver aid and detained hundreds of passengers, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The flotilla aimed to break Israel's 18-year blockade of Gaza using ships from various Mediterranean ports.
Israel's foreign ministry reported that one ship was still at a distance on Thursday afternoon. The ministry warned that any attempt to breach the blockade would be prevented as it is considered an active combat zone.
Israeli forces thwarted an incursion attempt by 41 ships during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, safely taking over 400 people to the port of Ashdod. The GSF's flotilla tracker indicated that 41 out of 42 ships were intercepted.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the military for stopping the flotilla, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the operation for preventing vessels from entering the war zone.
Flotilla organizers criticized Israel's actions as an illegal attack on humanitarians, while Israel accused the activists of seeking provocation rather than aid.
The GSF reported that Israeli forces aggressively targeted their vessels, with one ship being deliberately rammed and others hit with water cannons. Passengers were taken to Israel for deportation procedures.
The interception sparked international backlash, with protests in Italy and Turkey and condemnation from foreign leaders. The incident occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump unveiled a peace proposal for Gaza alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The flotilla, consisting of over 500 participants from various countries, aimed to deliver food, water, and medicine to Gaza. The convoy set sail from Barcelona and was joined by activist ships from other Mediterranean ports.
Among the participants were lawmakers from Spain and Italy, as well as Greta Thunberg, who was deported from Israel in June after a previous aid boat she was on was intercepted.
In Gaza, where Israel's blockade has led to escalating death and hunger, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reported a "man-made" famine in parts of the region.
British doctor James Smith, a participant in the flotilla, joined to protest against Israel's blockade of Gaza, calling it illegal. He emphasized that the flotilla's purpose was humanitarian aid and anti-colonial resistance.
Israel's foreign ministry had warned the flotilla to change course, stating that it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade. The ministry claimed the flotilla's sole purpose was provocation.
The US State Department condemned the flotilla as a deliberate provocation, while European countries expressed solidarity with the intercepted vessels and called for the safety of participants.