All boats in latest Gaza-bound Flotilla stopped by Israeli forces

All 50 boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla listed by organisers as sailing have been intercepted by Israeli naval forces in the eastern Mediterranean, with about 430 activists being taken to Israel.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the operation had concluded, with 430 activists transferred to Israeli vessels and heading to Israel, where they would be able to meet consular representatives. The ministry described the convoy as a publicity stunt in the service of Hamas and said Israel would continue to enforce what it called the lawful naval blockade of Gaza.

 

Israel said no live ammunition was fired during the takeover. It said that, after multiple warnings, non-lethal means were used against the vessels, not the protesters, and that no protesters were injured.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said 428 participants from more than 40 countries were detained. Reuters said it was not immediately clear why Israel and the flotilla gave different numbers. The word “sumud” means “steadfastness” in Arabic. Organisers said the fleet aimed to open a humanitarian corridor and break what they called Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza.

In a statement, the flotilla accused Israel of illegally and violently intercepting its vessels and abducting peaceful civilians in international waters. It demanded the immediate release of participants, safe passage for the fleet and an end to the blockade.

Video from the flotilla’s livestream showed soldiers firing shots at two boats, though the type of ammunition was not clear. Israel said no live ammunition was used.

Israeli authorities said the vessels had departed from the Turkish port of Marmaris and that no humanitarian aid was found on board.

Elite Shayetet 13 and Shayetet 3 units boarded the ships. Israeli reports said the IDF remotely accessed the flotilla’s communications system and played music on loop, including Israel’s Eurovision 2026 entry, “Michelle” by Noam Bettan, and Britney Spears’ “Oops! … I Did It Again.” On videos shared to X.com, activists on the flotilla are shown throwing chocolates into the ocean “to reach the people of Gaza”.

The naval blockade on Gaza has been in place since 2007 and is also enforced by Egypt. Israel has stopped previous attempts by activists to breach it, with those detained usually deported after a period in custody.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration imposed US Treasury sanctions on several organisers and backers of the flotilla, citing alleged links to Hamas. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the effort a “ludicrous attempt” to undermine President Trump’s progress towards lasting peace in the region and pledged to target Hamas financial networks.

Sanctioned individuals included Saif Hashim Kamel Abukeshek, a Spain-based member of the PCPA general secretariat and a steering committee member of the flotilla; Hisham Abdallah Sulayman Abu Mahfouz, the Jordan-based acting secretary-general and president of the PCPA; Mohammed Khatib, the Belgium-based European coordinator for Samidoun; and Jaldia Abubakra Aueda, Samidoun’s Madrid coordinator. The US has designated both the PCPA and Samidoun over alleged terrorist ties.

The Treasury also sanctioned a Muslim Brotherhood-linked cleric and affiliates of an Egypt-based group. It said legitimate humanitarian aid to Gaza should go through approved channels and warned financial institutions of compliance risks.

Israel, through COGAT, says there is no limit on humanitarian aid entering Gaza and that substantial amounts of food, medicine, fuel and other supplies enter through land crossings and Ashdod port. Israeli officials say hundreds of trucks can enter Gaza during active periods and argue the main obstacles are inside Gaza, where aid waits for collection or is diverted by Hamas. In the case of the Global Sumud Flotilla, Israeli authorities confirm the vessels carried no humanitarian aid.