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Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla near Crete and detains 175 activists
Israeli forces detained about 175 activists as the flotilla tried to break the Gaza blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, organizers said.
- On Thursday, April 30, 2026, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete, detaining approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats and transporting them to Israel.
- Organizers launched the mission from Barcelona on April 12 to challenge Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip; Israeli officials dismissed the fleet as a 'PR stunt' orchestrated by Hamas to sabotage peace plans.
- Activists reported military speedboats approached their vessels while jamming communications, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons at participants. Global Sumud Flotilla organizers denounced the operation as 'an act of piracy' in violation of international law.
- Turkey's foreign ministry condemned the seizure as 'an act of piracy,' while governments including Australia and New Zealand urgently sought information on detained nationals from Israeli authorities.
- Following a similar interception in October 2025 that detained hundreds of activists, this operation reflects Israel's established enforcement pattern, while the ongoing blockade restricts aid access for around 2 million Gaza residents.
362 Articles
362 Articles
Breaking the Siege from the Sea: Israel’s Pirate Raid on Gaza Flotillas in International Waters
Photograph Source: Global Sumud Flotilla In the early hours of April 30, 2026, Israeli forces committed an act of piracy in international waters off the coast of Crete — more than 1,000 kilometers from the shores of occupied Palestine. Armed commandos, supported by drones and electronic jamming, intercepted and seized over twenty vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, detaining activists and damaging engines and communications systems. This braze…
Israel Intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla 600 Miles from Gaza, Detains 175 Activists Near Crete - NewsRescue
Israeli naval forces boarded at least 22 vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters west of Crete overnight, detaining roughly 175 activists from more than 40 countries. Turkey condemned the seizure as ‘an act of piracy’ as 36 remaining boats kept sailing east. Israeli naval forces intercepted at least 22 vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters west of the Greek island of Crete in the early hours of Thursda…
Gaza aid flotilla activists transferred to Greece after IDF seizure
Greece claimed Israel's seizure of the ships near its waters was not coordinated with Athens. 'You can't do something like that so close to the national waters of a European country,' a journalist who was on board the flotilla told Haaretz
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