Gaza Aid Flotilla Continues Despite Israeli Interception

A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza said dozens of its vessels remained “sailing strong” toward the besieged Palestinian territory on Thursday, despite being intercepted by Israeli naval forces.

The Global Sumud Flotilla — comprising around 45 ships and including politicians and activists such as Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg — departed Spain last month with the goal of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where the UN has warned of famine.

On Wednesday, the Israeli navy intercepted part of the convoy after warning it not to enter waters under blockade. Thunberg’s ship was among those stopped, but organizers said most vessels pressed forward and were nearing the Gaza coast by early Thursday.

“Thirty boats still sailing strong on their way to Gaza, just 46 nautical miles away, despite incessant aggressions from the Israeli occupation navy,” the flotilla wrote on X at 3:20 am local time (0020 GMT).

Flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek said Israeli forces intercepted 13 boats carrying around 200 people, mainly from Spain and Italy, but insisted the mission would continue. “They are determined, they are motivated, and they are doing everything possible to break the siege,” he said in a video message.

The flotilla denounced the interceptions — which it said took place in international waters around 8:30 pm Wednesday — as “illegal.” Organizers also reported losing contact with several other vessels.

Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed several ships had been stopped and that their passengers were being transferred to port, posting video footage of Thunberg collecting her belongings. “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” it wrote.

Hamas condemned the interception as “piracy and maritime terrorism,” while Spain and Italy, which had dispatched naval escorts, urged the flotilla to halt before crossing Israel’s declared exclusion zone.

The flotilla resumed its voyage on September 15 after a stopover in Tunisia, where organizers claimed they were targeted by two drone strikes. Since then, participants reported “harassment” by Israeli warships, including maneuvers around the Alma and Sirius vessels.

Despite warnings, protests in support of the mission have erupted across Europe. Hundreds rallied in Rome on Wednesday, while pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Naples briefly blocked train services. Italian unions have announced another strike for Friday to protest Israel’s actions.

The operation has also sparked diplomatic fallout. Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the expulsion of all remaining Israeli diplomats, while Turkey’s foreign minister condemned the interception as “an act of terrorism” and “a grave violation of international law.”

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez insisted the activists posed no threat and urged Israel not to treat them as one. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, however, warned the mission could undermine US President Donald Trump’s latest Gaza peace initiative.

Israel has previously blocked similar aid flotillas in June and July.