Israeli naval forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla on Wednesday night as it attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing blockade.
The flotilla, consisting of around 45 vessels and carrying politicians and activists—including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg—had departed from Spain last month. Its mission was to break Israel’s blockade and provide essential relief supplies to Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of worsening famine conditions.
Israel’s foreign ministry released images showing Thunberg and other activists on board before announcing that all those detained would be taken to Israel and deported to their respective countries.
According to a statement issued by the flotilla organizers, Israeli forces intercepted and boarded several vessels—including the Alma, Sirius, and Adara—in international waters around 8:30 pm Gaza time. The group claimed that live streams and communications with other ships were lost following the interceptions.
The incident has sparked global attention, highlighting the mounting international concern over humanitarian access to Gaza and the ongoing blockade.