ATHENS – Activists sailing on dozens of boats attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid say Israeli forces intercepted them overnight Wednesday into Thursday, detaining the crews while the flotilla was sailing near the southern Greek island of Crete.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail earlier this month from Barcelona, has involved more than 70 boats and 1,000 participants from around the globe. This diverse group aims to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where residents have faced severe shortages of food, medicine, and basic necessities.
This latest attempt to break the blockade comes less than a year after Israeli authorities successfully thwarted a similar initiative by the activist group. In a press release, the organizers condemned Israel’s actions as a “dangerous and unprecedented escalation,” highlighting the interception of civilians over 600 miles from Gaza.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry reported that approximately 175 activists from over 20 boats are being taken to Israel. Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from importing weapons, while critics argue that it constitutes collective punishment against Gaza’s civilian population.
The Turkish foreign ministry has condemned the seizure of the flotilla, referring to it as “an act of piracy.” In a statement, they asserted that by targeting the Global Sumud Flotilla, Israel has violated humanitarian principles and international law.
Following the incident, activists in Greece organized a protest rally outside the Greek foreign ministry in Athens. They argue that Israel’s interception occurred within a maritime zone that falls under Greece’s responsibility for search and rescue operations, and criticized the Greek coast guard for not intervening.
Despite a fragile ceasefire that has lasted about six months, violence continues in Gaza. Reports indicate that Israeli attacks have resulted in over 790 deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is run by the Hamas-led government and is generally regarded as a reliable source by U.N. agencies.
The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack in southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians. Since then, around 2 million residents of Gaza have been living under dire conditions, facing significant shortages as aid trickles in through a single Israeli-controlled border post.
Flotilla organizers hope their mission will reignite global attention on the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, particularly as international focus shifts towards the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Previous flotilla efforts have seen similar vessels intercepted; however, last year’s initiative included notable figures like Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who reported claims of mistreatment during detention—a claim Israeli authorities deny.
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Natalie Melzer in Mitzpe Hila, Israel, and Cinar Kiper in Istanbul contributed to this report.
