The Global Sumud Flotilla which was on a peaceful mission seeking to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip has been intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters bringing about global condemnation and outrage.
The Global Sumud Flotilla had been sailing towards Gaza with more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 people. Among them were parliamentarians from various countries, lawyers activists, and hundreds of humanitarians, journalists, and other noteworthy figures from dozens of countries around the world.
They included the late South African President Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela; American actress Susan Sarandon; former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau; and multiple other European politicians. including the Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The Guardian reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) boarded at least two vessels roughly 75 miles away from Gaza. A livestream from the flotilla showed signals from boat after boat going dark after the convoy was surrounded by over 20 Israeli naval ships.
Activists aboard the Gaza aid flotilla accused Israeli forces of "illegally intercepting" their vessels and coming aboard as the flotilla approached the Israeli blockade.
According to Drop Site News, whose editor Alex Colston has been reporting from one of the vessels—by midnight local time, at least six boats from the flotilla had been intercepted and boarded by the IDF. After midnight, one sailor shared on the livestream that Israeli ships were spraying the flotilla boats with water cannons.
By 1:00 am, the stream only showed the Meteque, where sailors held their hands above their heads as the IDF ordered them to stop their engine. An earlier video from flotilla activists shows the moment that Brazilian organizer Thiago Ávila received a message from an IDF soldier who ordered the flotilla to turn around. “You are entering an active war zone,” the soldier is heard saying over an intercom. “If you attempt to breach the naval blockade, we will stop your vessel and act to confiscate it through legal proceedings in court.”
In response, Ávila pointed to the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures on Gaza and the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ávila asked Israeli forces to “stand down,” “not commit another war crime,” and “not engage with our peaceful, nonviolent, humanitarian solidarity mission for the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
Another video shows the people aboard the vessels defiantly chanting pro-Palestine slogans at Israeli ships.https://x.com/fjadaoud/status/1973482317793599719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1973482317793599719%7Ctwgr%5E1e7d5f338265f71700d618079ec8783476cae4cd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fisrael-flotilla
Another video shows one of the flotilla’s most famous participants, 22-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, being detained by an IDF soldier. https://x.com/Seamus_Malek/status/1973481168994705610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1973481168994705610%7Ctwgr%5E1e7d5f338265f71700d618079ec8783476cae4cd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fisrael-flotilla
The flotilla, carrying urgently needed food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies, set sail set sail from Barcelona a few weeks ago,after nearly two years of Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and 18 years of an illegal near-total blockade that has left Palestinians in Gaza deliberately starved and deprived of essentials, as part of Israel's ongoing unlawful occupation of the Palestinian territory.
The persistent inaction of states in the face of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip forced activists from across the world to take peaceful measures to break the siege. But not content with genocide, starvation, torture, the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure and targeting of medical facilities and personnel, Israel is now violating all laws of the sea in attacking dozens of boats manned by the bravest of the brave in international waters.
No aid the flotilla could have brought Gaza would have been even remotely sufficient in alleviating the horrors of the genocide. That was not the point. The flotilla meant to reveal Israel for what it is - capable of unleashing its tremendous power exclusively against civilians, interested only in cementing its strangle hold on Gaza so it can continue its genocide, now silently approved by the "peace deal" discussed in Washington,
While caring only for demonstrating it's impunity and supremacy, with hateful intentions. By blocking a humanitarian mission, and unarmed civilians carrying life-saving humanitarian supplies for Gaza, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world. No amount of propaganda will undo what we're witnessing here.
The flotilla embodies solidarity, compassion and the hope of relief for those under blockade. Netanyahu and his far right fascist regime can pay influencers all they want but no amount of money is going to make people forget this cowardly display in international waters. The flotilla attack is not just an assault at sea, It’s an assault on the conscience of humanity! Shame on all those that remain complicit.
A group of United Nations experts warned in early September that any attempt by Israel to stop the vessels from delivering aid “would constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles.”
Throughout their journey toward Gaza, the flotilla members have faced numerous threats from the Israeli government, which has attempted to smear the humanitarian mission as an effort to advance the agenda of Hamas.
Last week, while still off the coast of Greece, the flotilla was swarmed with drones and attacked with flash-bang grenades believed to have been launched by Israel, which has a history of targeting such missions. That attack initially led the governed the governments of Italy and Spain to send naval ships to offer protection to the flotilla, but they have since turned back as the boats moved closer to Gaza.
The actions by Israel have generated outrage and displays of solidarity from across the globe. “History will side with the flotilla,” said former UK Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who remains in Parliament. “And their bravery will only inspire more people to join our global movement for Palestine.”
Turkey’s foreign ministry described the interception as a “terrorist act... which targeted civilians acting peacefully,” while Colombian President Gustavo Petro booted the entire Israeli diplomatic delegation from his country immediately following the news.
People of conscience have now been abducted. The flotilla broke no laws. What is illegal is Israel’s genocide, and the criminal entity known as Israel which will not allow a single vessel to reach the starving. Even mercy is blockaded.
Participants on board were assaulted and detained in yet another act of piracy. A state so terrified of compassion it blockades bread and medicine and uses starvation as a weapon.
Solidarity is currently surging as people globally rally in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla following the illegal Israeli interception. In Barcelona, hundreds of outraged protesters gathered outside the Israeli consulate.
Similar scenes broke out in other cities around the world, including Sweden, Istanbul, Germany and Brussels, while major Italian trade unions CGIL and USB have announced a 24-hour general strike for October 3, 2025, as per their promise if the Gaza flotilla was attacked, as it has been now. Unions accuse the Italian government of failing to protect its citizens aboard the vessels.
Even with the flotillas interception it reminds us of the power of humanity. When leaders failed, ordinary people stepped up and risked their lives to do what’s right. Israel has weapons, the flotilla had the world. They stood on the right side of history.
Despite Israeli Interception and Intimidation Israeli forces have detained 223 international activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. Despite more than 40 reported interceptions, one vessel, Mikeno, successfully broke through and reached Palestinian waters for the first time in a historic development, breaching the Israeli blockade.
It is one of the rare times throughout history that fleets move from West to East or south in order to help and not invade, and yet it is prevented. This world has a lot of good, but only bad people control it.
The illegal detention of Global Sumud Flotilla activists, and the confiscation of vital aid just miles from a starving population in Gaza, is a crime against humanity.
Israel is still enforcing a complete blockade on Gaza, using starvation as a weapon of war against children, women, and men. Humanity must not look the other way. The courage and human decency of the activists on the flotilla, is to be commended.
Their brave actions stand in stark contrast to that of Israeli war criminals. We must continue to press the British Government to end their complicity in genocide, impose serious sanctions on Israel, and join international calls for the urgent release of flotilla activists. We must condemn in the strongest terms Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The interception of the flotilla in international waters is contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown on the dozens of vessels in the flotilla. This action also violates an International Court of Justice injunction that humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow unimpeded.
My thoughts are with all of the abductees and their families and it is my expectation that Israel will release the human rights activists as these abductions serve no purpose in the context of efforts to secure peace in the Middle East.
These vessels carried unarmed civilians and life-saving humanitarian supplies for Gaza, yet they were met with intimidation and coercion all were lying in a passive position or sitting in a passive position on the deck in the cockpit. They had trained to not respond, not do anything aggressive at all in response to anything that Israel would do or say. Israel's actions are a war crime.
The Sumud Flotilla's main goal was to draw attention to the genocide in Gaza that mainstream media is disappearing from headlines and Western politicians are looking away from if not actively complicit in. The least we can do is speak up and condemn in the strongest terms Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The bravery of the Global Sumud Flotilla puts our own cowardly Government to shame.
In Britain, a powerful response to this is to keep building and escalating the Palestine movement.
Pkease Email your MPs now to demand protection for the UK citizens illegally kidnapped by the IOF.
2 October, join todays emergency demo, 5.30pm, parliament square.
4 October, join the witness circle at the Defend Our Juries action against the Palestine Action ban. Go to DOJ for details. https://defendourjuries.net/
8 October, protest at sites supplying Israel’s F35 jets. Go to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign for more details https://palestinecampaign.org/events/
11 October, national demonstration for Palestine. Go to stopwar.org.uk for more details. https://www.stopwar.org.uk/
Keep calling for the full lifting of the siege and unrestricted humanitarian access for food, water, medicine, fuel, and other essentials. An end to the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
As long as the Palestinian people are denied their fundamental rights and aspirations, we must stand unflinchingly with them. And not relent in demanding an end to the injustice and dispossession that have plagued Palestine for generations. We cannot remain silent while the foundations of life are being destroyed.
And will add only Palestinians deserve to determine their future, not Tony Blair, Donald Trump or Benjamin Netanyahu! Real peace is not imposed by Washington and Tel Aviv. It comes from ending the siege, ending the genocide , ending the occupation and giving Palestinians their freedom and dignity back. Free Palestine.
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