Israel intercepts all but one Gaza aid boat, Global Sumud Flotilla says

A screengrab from a live footage video shows crew of a Gaza-bound vessel, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, put their hands up as they are intercepted by Israeli security forces, 1 October 2025

Haaretz, Reuters and The Associated Press report in Haaretz on 2 October 2025:

Israeli forces have intercepted 39 boats carrying aid and foreign activists – including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg – to Gaza, leaving only one vessel still sailing towards the Palestinian enclave, the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said on Thursday.

The Israeli foreign ministry said the activists were on the way to Israeli land ahead of a deportation procedure. A ministry video showed Thunberg, the most prominent of the flotilla’s passengers, sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers.

“Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin,” the Foreign Ministry said on X. “The passengers are safe and in good health.”

Cameras broadcasting live feeds from the boats, verified by Reuters, showed Israeli soldiers sporting helmets and night vision goggles boarding the ships, while passengers huddled together in life vests with their hands up.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, is transporting medicine and food to Gaza and consists of more than 40 civilian vessels with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists. It’s the highest-profile symbol of opposition to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Israeli politicians issued reactions to the interception late Thursday following Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of observance.   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the interception late Thursday, on X, praising the Israeli Navy soldiers “who carried out the operation on Yom Kippur in the most professional and efficient manner,” adding that the interception “prevented the entry of dozens of vessels into a war zone and repelled a de-legitimization campaign against Israel.”  Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz also praised the IDF for a “flawless execution” of halting the “Gaza terror flotilla,” calling the operation “sacred work in the midst of the holy day – for the security of the State of Israel.”

Backlash to the interception
Israel’s interception of the flotilla sparked protests in Italy and Colombia, while protests were also called in Greece, Ireland and Turkey. Italian unions called a general strike for Friday.  Turkey’s foreign ministry called Israel’s “attack” on the flotilla “an act of terror” that endangered the lives of innocent civilians.  The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office said it had launched an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens on the vessels on charges including deprivation of liberty, seizure of transport vehicles and damage to property, Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.

Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla being transported to Israel, 2 October 2025

Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of Israel’s entire diplomatic delegation on Wednesday following the detention of two Colombians in the flotilla and terminated Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned Israel’s actions and said Israeli forces had detained 23 Malaysians.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said that Israel’s interception was a “grave offence” against “global solidarity and sentiment that is aimed at relieving suffering in Gaza”.  In a statement, Ramaphosa called on Israel to immediately release South Africans and others who were on the flotilla, including liberation hero Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela.

The UK Foreign Office said it was in touch with activists’ families and Israeli officials.

In a statement, Hamas expressed support for the activists and called Israel’s interception of the flotilla a “criminal act”, calling for public protests to condemn Israel.

The flotilla’s progress across the Mediterranean Sea garnered international attention as nations including Turkey, Spain and Italy sent boats or drones in case their nationals required assistance, even as it triggered repeated warnings from Israel to turn back.

The interception
Israel’s navy had previously warned the flotilla it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful blockade, and asked organizers to change course. It had offered to transfer any aid peacefully through safe channels to Gaza.

The flotilla is the latest seaborne attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, much of which has been turned into a wasteland by almost two years of war.  The boats were about 70 nautical miles off Gaza when they were intercepted, inside a zone that Israel is policing to stop any boats approaching. The organizers said their communications, including the use of a live camera feed from some of the boats, had been scrambled.

The flotilla had hoped to arrive in Gaza on Thursday morning if it was not intercepted. The mission triggered repeated warnings from Israel to turn back even as activists and governments lent their support.

This was the second time the flotilla was approached on Wednesday. Before dawn, the mission’s organizers said two Israeli “warships” had encircled two of the flotilla’s boats and scrambled its communications.

The flotilla’s organizers denounced Wednesday’s raid as a “war crime”. They said the military used aggressive tactics, including the use of water cannon but that no one was harmed. “Multiple vessels … were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli Occupation Forces in international waters,” the organizers said in a statement.

Ankara said that steps had begun for Israel to release Turks and others on board, while Spain called on Israel to protect the safety and rights of activists.

“Tonight’s reports are very concerning. This is a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe,” Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris said on X.

Last week, the flotilla was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no wounds.  Israel did not comment on that attack, but has said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas militants in the coastal enclave.

Italy and Spain deployed naval ships to help with any rescue or humanitarian needs but stopped following the flotilla once it got within 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) of Gaza for safety reasons. Turkish drones have also followed the boats.

Italy and Greece on Wednesday jointly called on Israel not to hurt the activists aboard and called on the flotilla to hand over its aid to the Catholic Church for indirect delivery to Gaza — a plea the flotilla has previously rejected.

Israeli officials have repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt.  “This systematic refusal [to hand over the aid] demonstrates that the objective is not humanitarian, but provocative,” Jonathan Peled, the Israeli ambassador to Italy, said in a post on X.

This article is reproduced in its entirety