Israel Seizes 39 Gaza-Bound Aid Flotilla Boats

(MENAFN) Israeli forces have intercepted at least 39 of 51 vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, according to the operation's organizers.

The fleet — carrying more than 420 activists from 39 countries — had set sail from the port of Marmaris in Türkiye last week, with the declared aim of piercing Israel's naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave.

On Monday, flotilla organizers took to X to warn that "military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and Israel Occupation Forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight." A subsequent post alleged that Israeli troops had "illegally and violently" seized their ships and "abducted our volunteers."

Among those detained was Irish physician Margaret Connolly, sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, organizers confirmed.

Israeli forces boarded the vessels approximately 250 nautical miles (463 km) from Gaza, in waters off the Cypriot coastline. Cypriot rescue authorities confirmed the incident took place outside the EU nation's territorial waters. President Nikos Christodoulides said Israel had given Nicosia no advance notice of its intentions to move against the flotilla.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded the operation, praising "an outstanding job" by the commandos involved and claiming they were "effectively thwarting a malicious plan intended to break the isolation we are imposing on Hamas terrorists in Gaza."

West Jerusalem has consistently denied blocking humanitarian supplies to Palestinians in Gaza, nearly 2 million of whom have been uprooted since fighting between Israel and Hamas erupted in October 2023. Israeli authorities had previously dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt, stating that activists had turned down an offer to transfer their aid cargo to Israel or international organizations for delivery through sanctioned channels.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the interception in blunt terms, branding it "piracy and banditry" and calling on Israel to free all detainees — including more than 40 Turkish nationals.

This is not the first time Israel has moved against such efforts. In October 2025, Israeli forces intercepted dozens of vessels in a similar operation, with passengers including climate activist Greta Thunberg. Those activists were transported to the southern Israeli port of Ashdod, where some were processed and swiftly deported while others faced a period of detention before being expelled.

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