Pro-Palestinian activists say Israeli forces are boarding a flotilla of more than 50 boats carrying aid for Gaza in international waters west of Cyprus. The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) reported that its fleet was being intercepted about 250 nautical miles (460km) from Gaza, with a video stream showing commandos climbing onto several boats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation as "effectively neutralizing a malicious plan designed to break the isolation we have imposed on Hamas terrorists in Gaza."
This isn't the first time these particular boats have made headlines. Last month, Israeli forces intercepted 21 vessels from the same flotilla near Crete, detaining 181 activists. All but two - Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian national Thiago Ávila - were released the next day after widespread international condemnation. Those two were taken to Israel for questioning and deported after 10 days in custody. The remaining boats regrouped in the Turkish port of Marmaris, where 54 vessels departed last Thursday carrying more than 420 activists from 39 countries.
Just after 10:30 in Cyprus (07:30 GMT) on Monday, the GSF's live broadcast showed commandos boarding a sailboat as passengers raised their hands. "Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and [Israeli] forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight," the GSF said, demanding safe passage for their "legal, non-violent humanitarian mission" and calling on governments to stop "these illegal acts of piracy meant to maintain Israel's genocidal siege on Gaza." The organizers later reported that 10 vessels had been intercepted and contact lost with 23, with some two dozen Turkish nationals among those on board.
Turkey's foreign ministry condemned the intervention as "a new act of piracy," while Netanyahu told naval commanders by radio they were "doing an outstanding job" - "quietly, and certainly with less prominence than our enemies expected," he added. Israel's foreign ministry had earlier vowed not to allow any breach of the blockade, which it insists is lawful, and called the flotilla "a provocation for the sake of provocation" with "no humanitarian aid." It singled out two Turkish groups - Mavi Marmara and IHH, the latter designated as a terrorist organization - as part of the provocation. IHH was involved in a 2010 flotilla attempt where Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists on the Mavi Marmara.
The Israeli foreign ministry also claimed the flotilla's purpose was to "serve Hamas, to divert attention from Hamas's refusal to disarm, and to obstruct progress on [US] President Trump's peace plan." Activists countered that they need to deliver aid to Gaza's 2.1 million displaced residents, where living conditions are dire despite the October ceasefire. Israel described Gaza as "flooded with aid," noting over 1.5 million tonnes of supplies had entered in seven months. But the UN reported that many families still shelter in overcrowded tents or damaged structures, with limited clean water, impaired waste management, and humanitarian operations hampered by restrictions on spare parts, generators, fuel, and engine oil. Only 86% of supplies approved by Israeli authorities in April were offloaded; the rest were returned.
The conflict began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 72,760 people, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.