Israel Has Illegally Intercepted 22 Of The Global Sumud Flotilla Boats Again In International Waters Near Greece

Israel has illegally intercepted 22 of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels in international waters, abducting about 175 activists on board and confiscating the aid bound for Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla formed in July 2025, when several activist groups merged into a single coordinated mission in an effort to try to break Israel’s siege on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.

On April 12, nearly 1,000 activists from around the world set sail from Barcelona on about 70 vessels carrying aid and medical supplies to Gaza.

In the early hours of April 30, 2026, the Israeli military intercepted some of the Global Sumud Flotilla boats in international waters, boarding the vessels near the Greek island of Crete about 600 nautical miles from the Gaza coast.

This intervention was independently verified by Greenpeace International, whose vessel, the Arctic Sunrise, had been accompanying the convoy in a logistical support capacity.

According to Greenpeace, the Israeli navy issued a radio warning via the international distress channel, demanding the vessels alter their course.

This was reportedly followed by the jamming of communications, including maritime emergency SOS channels, flotilla coordination frequencies, the Global Navigation Satellite System and Iridium satellite bands, effectively severing the fleet's emergency communication lines in open water.

Soldiers on military speedboats approached the civilian vessels, pointing lasers and semi-automatic weapons and ordering participants to the front of the boats and onto their hands and knees, the flotilla said.

Israeli soldiers then boarded the ships, damaging engines and communications equipment to force them off course.

Israel has intercepted 22 boats of 58, with 36 boats still sailing towards Gaza.

Israel’s foreign affairs ministry said Israeli forces detained about 175 activists and are taking them to Israel.

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