Organisers decry Israeli interception of Gaza aid ships
Flotilla organizers stated that Israel stopped aid ships bound for Gaza in international waters near Greece, condemning this move as “an increase in Israeli impunity”.
The ships form part of the second Global Sumud flotilla that has attempted to break the Israeli blockade in recent months by carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
They set sail from the port of Barcelona, Spain, on April 12.
The ships were seized by Israel late Wednesday in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese Peninsula, hundreds of kilometers from Gaza, flotilla organizers said.
The Israeli foreign ministry said about 175 activists from more than 20 boats joining the flotilla would be taken to Israel.
Among those detained were six Australians, out of 17 known to have volunteered with the fleet.
“This is piracy,” the group said in a statement.
“This is an unlawful seizure of people on the high seas near Crete; an assertion that Israel can operate with complete impunity, far beyond its own borders, without consequences.”
No state had the right to claim, control or occupy international waters, but Israel did so and expanded its control to occupy the Mediterranean off the European coast.
Israel’s foreign ministry on Thursday called the organizers of the flotilla “professional provocateurs” and said its forces acted lawfully.
“Due to the large number of ships joining the fleet and the risk of escalation and the need to prevent violations of the legal blockade, early action was necessary in accordance with international law.”
Images released by organizers show Israeli soldiers boarding a ship and the crew wearing life jackets with their hands in the air.
The crew were then taken to Israeli ships.
Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis confirmed late Wednesday that 55 ships were heading towards Crete, about 90 kilometers off the Peloponnese, in the shadow of Israeli warships and Greek coast guard vessels.
He said Athens was not informed of the Israeli intervention, which took place outside Greece’s jurisdiction.
The fleet’s live tracker showed some boats sailing near the southwest coast of Crete.
Turkey condemned the intervention as a clear violation of international law that endangered the safety of navigation and added that it would take action to support the fleet.
In October 2025, the Israeli army intercepted a previous flotilla assembled by the same organization, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 participants.
This followed other attempts to reach blockaded Gaza by sea.
Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies halting supplies to its two million residents.
However, Palestinians and international aid organizations say that despite the ceasefire reached in October, which included a guarantee that aid will be increased, supplies reaching the region are still insufficient.
With AP and AAP
