Israeli forces have intercepted and boarded several vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, detaining activists attempting to break the naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The action, which occurred during the Yom Kippur holiday, has left the fate of hundreds of participants in legal limbo and sparked international protests.
The Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla on October 1, 2025, as the group of more than 40 civilian boats attempted to reach the Gaza shore. Activists reported that at least 20 Israeli military vessels approached the flotilla while it was roughly 75 miles off the coast of Gaza, an area activists described as a "high-risk zone" in international waters where previous aid missions had been stopped.
Israeli forces boarded multiple ships, including the vessels Alma, Sirius, and Adara, with soldiers ordering crews to cut their engines. Prior to boarding, activists reported that Israeli vessels performed "very dangerous maneuvers" and used jamming technology to disable communication systems and engines on some boats, severing live streams and contact with the outside world. Organizers confirmed that six boats had been intercepted, with activists detained by Israeli soldiers.
The flotilla, carrying around 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and actor Susan Sarandon, stated its purpose was solely to deliver humanitarian aid. The cargo included basic necessities like food, water filters, crutches, and baby formula for a population facing widespread hunger.
In a radio message, an Israeli Navy official told the flotilla it was "approaching a blockaded zone" and instructed it to divert to the Israeli port of Ashdod to unload aid for transfer through "established channels". Flotilla activists responded that they are a "peaceful, nonviolent humanitarian mission" and asserted that their journey is legal under international law, with any obstruction being illegal.
The interception created an immediate legal dilemma for those detained, as the operation coincided with the start of Yom Kippur, a holy day in Israel. During this time, courts and prisons essentially shut down, preventing the normal legal processing of detainees. This situation leaves the activists in a state of uncertainty, as they cannot be formally charged or deported until after the holiday concludes.
This is not the first time Israel has detained flotilla activists. In a similar incident in June 2025, activists from the Madleen ship were taken to Givon prison, with some placed in solitary confinement, before ultimately being deported. Legal experts have argued that Israel's interception of boats in international waters and the denial of aid to Gaza violate its obligations under international law as the occupying power.
The interception sparked swift international reactions. In Italy, thousands took to the streets in spontaneous protests, with the country's largest union calling for a general strike in support of the flotilla. Protests also erupted in Brussels, with demonstrators marching toward the Belgian foreign ministry.
Amnesty International UK called on the British government to condemn the interception, describing it as a "shameful chapter in the brutal and merciless enforcement of Israel’s illegal and immoral 18-year blockade of Gaza". The Mexican government also issued a statement calling for respect for the "physical integrity and security" of its seven citizens participating in the mission.