Over 20 ships and around 175 activists part of a Gaza-bound flotilla were intercepted by the Israeli Navy on Wednesday night, according to statements made by the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The MFA said on X Thursday that the vessels and activists were en route to Israel on Israeli ships.
The flotilla was intercepted early in the flotilla’s transit “due to the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade.”
“The operation was carried out in international waters peacefully and without any casualties,” said the MFA.
GSF said in a Wednesday statement that the incident was an act of piracy far from Gaza in international waters.
“What we are witnessing is the attempted normalization of Israeli control over the Mediterranean itself and an escalation of Israel’s impunity,” GSF said in a press statement. “No state has the right to claim, police, or occupy international waters. Yet, that is exactly what Israel has done, extending its regime of control outward, occupying the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Europe.”
While GSF claimed to be bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza, the MFA asserted that there was none, and characterized the flotilla as a pleasure cruise after an initial inspection found what appeared to be de drugs and contraceptives.
Approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats of the condom flotilla are now making their way peacefully to Israel.
In the video: the activists enjoying themselves aboard Israeli vessels pic.twitter.com/0sz8kDpKLX
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) April 30, 2026
During the interception of the 56 strong activist fleet, GSF said that the engines and navigation systems of some of the remaining vessels were allegedly damaged. This allegedly was an attempt to disable their vessels, which were left stranded in the path of a storm.
Leading up to the reports of Israeli boarding, the activist ships were allegedly approached by Israeli fast boats “pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons.”
Israel says driving force behind flotilla is Hamas
Greenpeace said on social media that the flotilla was contacted by those identifying as the Israeli Navy, demanding that they change course. Their communications were then allegedly jammed.
According to Marinetraffic.com, Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise, which is supposed to be part of the fleet, was located west of Crete by the time of the alleged raid.
Reuters reported that Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis confirmed that 50 ships were sailing off the Peloponnese coast towards Crete, and had been shadowed by vessels of the Israeli navy and Greek coastguard.
GFS said in its press release that it was alarmed that states were silent about the interception.
“Governments that claim to uphold international law have, once again, said nothing,” said GSF. “No urgent condemnations. No immediate demands for the release of the captives. No calls for accountability. This absence of response is not neutrality; it is permission, and it is complicity.
According to Reuters, Turkey denounced the interception as a violation of international law, which jeopardized navigational safety. It added it would take action to support the activist flotilla.
The interception comes the same day that Defense Minister Israel Katz noted that a provision of the Counterterrorism Law authorizes the seizure of ships and other property intended for use in terror activity.
The Global Sumud Flotilla “violates UN Resolution 2803, which stipulated that aid to Gaza should enter through accepted official channels,” Katz said.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X on Wednesday night that the driving force behind the “flotilla provocation” was Hamas, with the aim of sabotaging US President Donald Trump’s peace plans for Gaza.
“Like previous provocations, this is nothing but a PR stunt: a provocation without humanitarian aid,” said the Ministry. “As international media have exposed, these are professional provocateurs on pleasure cruises, addicted to self-promotion.”
In October, the Israeli Navy had halted another GSF flotilla, arresting climate activist Greta Thunberg and around 450 sailors.
Fifty-six vessels had embarked from Italy on Sunday, on a voyage to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
“The flotilla departs with a clear set of objectives: to challenge Israel’s illegal blockade, advance the opening of a permanent humanitarian corridor, and intensify coordinated international pressure on governments and corporations complicit in its enforcement,” GSF said on Monday.
James Genn contributed to this report.
