Gaza, Oct 2: The Israeli navy intercepted three boats from a large flotilla attempting to reach Gaza late Wednesday, halting what organizers called the biggest effort yet to break the 18-year blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Israeli officials confirmed that all passengers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, were safe and were being transferred to Israel. “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” the Foreign Ministry said on X, releasing a video that showed her seated on a deck receiving water and a raincoat.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of nearly 50 vessels and about 500 activists, set sail a month ago from Barcelona carrying a small load of humanitarian aid. Organizers said the Sirius, Alma and Adara boats were intercepted roughly 70 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast, while other ships continued broadcasting their journey live.
Passengers on board included Nelson Mandela’s grandson, South African lawmaker Mandla Mandela, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, several European parliamentarians, and hundreds of international volunteers. “We remain undeterred in our mission to break the blockade and bring aid to Palestinians,” the group said in a statement after the interceptions.
Greg Stoker, an American veteran sailing on the Ohwayla, reported that a dozen Israeli naval vessels with their transponders switched off approached the flotilla. “They are currently hailing our vessels, telling us to turn off our engines and await further instructions or our boats will be seized and we will face the consequences,” Stoker said in a shaky Instagram video, filmed in a red life jacket. Some activists claimed Israeli forces also used water cannons against them.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the operation would take several hours and confirmed that the boats would be towed to Israel’s Ashdod port. Activists would likely be deported in the coming days, he told state broadcaster Rai, adding that Israeli forces had been instructed “not to use violence.”
Turkiye sharply condemned the interception, calling it an “act of terrorism” and a grave breach of international law. Its Foreign Ministry said it was pressing for the immediate release of Turkish citizens and other detained passengers.
The flotilla was moving through international waters north of Egypt in what activists described as a “danger zone.” The area, while outside Israel’s territorial waters, has been a frequent site of Israeli naval interventions against ships seeking to challenge the blockade.
Earlier on Wednesday, the flotilla had reported tense encounters with Israeli vessels but continued its course while broadcasting music, slogans and messages of solidarity. “Free Palestine!” activists chanted in livestreams, some of which captured the approach of Israeli ships before participants threw their devices into the sea.
Organizers had originally planned to reach Gaza by Thursday morning but had acknowledged it was unlikely. Still, they called this the largest and most determined attempt so far to confront Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.
