Israeli forces have intercepted the majority of a civilian flotilla carrying food, medicine, and hundreds of international activists bound for Gaza, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for the detainees’ release.
Organisers confirmed that 39 ships have been stopped, with only one vessel still continuing toward the besieged Palestinian enclave. The flotilla, which set sail in late August, consisted of more than 40 vessels carrying nearly 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists — among them Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and South African MP Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela.
According to rights group Adalah, the detained passengers will be transferred to Ketziot Prison in southern Israel — a high-security facility not typically used for immigration detainees — before being deported. “Our main concern at this stage is their well-being and health condition, as well as ensuring they receive legal advice,” said Suhad Bishara, director of Adalah.
Live footage verified by Reuters showed Israeli soldiers in helmets and night vision gear boarding the ships as passengers huddled together in life vests, raising their hands in surrender. A video released by Israel’s foreign ministry also showed Thunberg surrounded by soldiers on deck.
The interception has triggered international protests, including demonstrations in Italy, Colombia, Greece, Ireland, and Turkey. Several governments — including Turkey, Spain, and Italy — had dispatched boats or drones to monitor the flotilla and protect their nationals. The Greek foreign ministry confirmed its 27 citizens aboard were in good health and had not faced violence.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the move as a “grave offence” against global solidarity. He demanded Israel immediately release all detainees, including Mandela’s grandson, who had joined the flotilla in September, declaring that Palestinians live under conditions worse than those endured during South Africa’s apartheid era.
Israel has consistently rejected such comparisons, insisting its blockade of Gaza — now in place for over 17 years — is a security necessity.
The Global Sumud Flotilla has drawn unprecedented international attention as the most high-profile challenge to Israel’s blockade to date. Its interception marks another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over Israel’s policies in Gaza, where humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate.
