Global Sumud Flotilla describes interception as ‘violent raid’ as IDF urges activists to deliver aid via ‘established channels’
Israeli forces have intercepted and detained the crews of at least 22 boats near the Greek island of Crete from a flotilla that is attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of about 58 vessels carrying people from across 70 countries, departed from Italy on Sunday.
Flotilla organisers said in a press release: “Israel’s actions … mark a dangerous and unprecedented escalation, the abduction of civilians in the middle of the Mediterranean, over 600 miles from Gaza, in full view of the world.”
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The flotilla described the interception as a “violent raid in international waters”. In a social media post, the group said that “after smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays, the military retreated – intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm”.
It also said the vessels’ communications had been jammed, hindering them from signalling for help. Asked by Agence France-Presse about the accusations, the Israeli military declined to comment.
Helene Coron, a spokesperson for Global Sumud France, told an online news conference that the operation had taken place at an “unprecedented” distance from Israel, and that those intercepted included Paris Communist municipal councillor Raphaelle Primet and another 10 French nationals.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said on Wednesday he had imposed sanctions on the flotilla, which he said had been “organised by the Hamas terror organisation, in cooperation with additional international organisations”.
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Original article at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/30/israel-intercepts-detains-crews-gaza-aid-flotillas-crete
