The Global Sumud Flotilla, which had been attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, has been intercepted by Israel and has attracted international attention as one of the biggest naval aid missions to the Palestinian enclave.
More than 40 civilian boats and about 500 activists were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla on Wednesday night when Israeli forces boarded it.
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Israel had previously stated that it would take all necessary steps to stop the flotilla traveling to Gaza, claiming that the volunteers were attempting to “breach a lawful naval blockade,” which was against international law.
Since Hamas gained control of the Strip in 2007, Israel has imposed varying levels of blockade on Gaza. Since then, Gaza’s residents have largely been trapped inside the country, with Israel largely controlling access to food, goods, and aid.
What should I know, below.
On Wednesday, what happened to the flotilla?
According to the flotilla organizers’ statements, Israel intercepted the boats carrying humanitarian aid.
As the flotilla approached the censored enclave, naval forces reportedly boarded ships about 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers) offshore Gaza, cutting communications and blocking signals.
Earlier in the day, activists described ominous encounters with unlit boats and drones escorting the convoy, causing tensions to rise.
Multiple Global Sumud Flotilla vessels, notably Alma, Surius, and Adara, were illegally intercepted and boarded in international waters on Wednesday, according to a flotilla statement.
It appears that the Israeli naval vessels intentionally damaged ship communications in an effort to block distress signals and stop the livestream of their illegal boat boarding before illegally boarding the ships.
The flotilla continued its efforts to establish a maritime corridor into Gaza, where the population has been in acute need of humanitarian aid after nearly two years of Israel’s war. Despite carrying only a small amount of humanitarian aid, the mission was still moving forward.
What was Israel’s response?
A woman speaking by phone while wearing a military uniform and introducing herself as an Israeli navy representative was featured in a video released by Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs.
She informs the flotilla that it is approaching a restricted, blockaded area in the call, and specifies that any aid for Gaza must be delivered “through the established channels.”
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, added that Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday, will be observed on Thursday and that activists on board the Gaza aid flotilla will be deported.
“Already, six boats have been intercepted, including the vessel Alma,” according to Israeli media. According to reports, more interceptions are anticipated, according to Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, who is based in Doha.
“Many of the activists on board the ships have been detained by Israeli soldiers,” the statement read. Due to the Yom Kippur holiday, those detained would typically go through a legal process, she continued. “Israel is currently almost completely shut down,” she continued.
That implies that if activists are detained, their status will not be known in courts and prisons, leaving them in limbo.
Israel has officially imposed a naval blockade since 2009 to stop weapons trafficking in. The activists firmly refute the allegations that some flotilla organizers have connections to Hamas, which they allege is untrue.
Has this ever occurred before?
Since 2010, ships and convoys have made an effort to break the blockade of Gaza.
Among the most notable examples  are:
The most notorious incident from 2010 was the Mavi Marmara incident, which involved the Israeli-led Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Ten activists were killed in the incident, which caused international outcry and straining Israeli-Turkiye relations.
Israel apologised for the 2013 raid’s “operational mistakes.” The two nations are still negotiating a compensation deal. In Turkiye, Israeli soldiers and government officials are being tried for war crimes in absentia.
2011–2018 – Smaller flotillas stopped: Several subsequent flotillas, including vessels in 2011, 2015, and 2018. Typically, Israel escorted cargo, detained activists, and sent the ships to Ashdod port. Some reported being tasered and beaten, and some activists were arrested in 2018.
Activist groups continued organizing flotillas until 2024, but Israel either stopped them from entering Gaza or intercepted them.
Several flotilla missions sail to challenge Israel’s naval blockade in 2025.
The ship Madleen, which departed from Catania, Sicily, with food, medical supplies, baby formula, and other essential items, was one of those missions in June. Greta Thunberg and other activists were also present.
The Madleen was intercepted and boarded by Israeli naval forces in international waters on June 9; there were 12 people on board. After being processed in Israel, the activists were deported.
What other details exist regarding the current flotilla?
The Global Sumud Flotilla made its way across the Mediterranean in late August 2025, making its way from ports in Spain and Italy to Greece and Tunisia.
More than 50 vessels carrying hundreds of international volunteers, activists, and lawmakers from at least 44 nations joined the mission’s beginnings. According to the organizers, there are 24 Americans and several veterans of the armed forces.
Food, medical supplies, and other necessities for Gaza’s population were symbolic but significant amounts of humanitarian cargo on board.
Activists reported several hostile sea encounters, including those involving suspected drone attacks close to Malta and Crete, which forced some ships to leave. 44 ships were still in the convoy as the flotilla approached the eastern Mediterranean.
