Hundreds of activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, have been detained by Israeli forces after a flotilla carrying aid bound for Gaza was intercepted in international waters.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that those involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) are being transferred to the port of Ashdod for deportation. According to the ministry, the navy ordered the boats to divert course as they were “approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade.”
The GSF condemned the action as “illegal,” calling it “a brazen act of desperation, not an act of defence.” The group estimated that 443 people were detained and alleged that some were assaulted with water cannon. Israel denied this, saying all detainees were “safe and in good health.”
The first boats were stopped about 70 nautical miles from Gaza’s coast, with others intercepted closer to shore. While Israel polices the area, it has no jurisdiction in international waters. One vessel, the Marinette, remained at sea on Thursday, carrying six activists, according to the flotilla’s tracking system. Another, the Mikeno, may have entered Gaza’s territorial waters but has since lost contact.
International reaction has been swift. Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s remaining diplomats, denounced the interception as an “international crime by Netanyahu,” and terminated Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel. He also demanded the release of two Colombian nationals detained on the flotilla.
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard condemned Israel’s blockade of Gaza as “unlawful,” saying: “Decades-long impunity for Israel’s blatant violations of international law must end.”
By contrast, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the flotilla itself, saying: “I continue to believe that all this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people.”
Israel released footage showing Thunberg sitting on the deck of a boat, being handed water and a jacket by Israeli soldiers. “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” the government said, describing the flotilla as “provocation yachts.”
Israel maintains that none of the boats breached the blockade zone, although GSF data suggests otherwise.
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