Israel announced that it stopped 22 vessels carrying 175 activists, from the 58-boat Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to break the blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid.
Israeli military vessels approached the flotilla with weapons in international waters, 50 nautical miles south of Crete, 45 nautical miles from Kythira, and 650 nautical miles from Gaza—much earlier than in the previous mission.
“This is piracy,” the Global Sumud Flotilla stated. “This is the illegal arrest of people on the high seas near Crete, a sign that Israel can act with complete impunity, far beyond its borders, without consequences.”
“After disabling the engines and navigation systems, the military forces withdrew, deliberately leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on immobilized, damaged vessels, directly in the path of a massive approaching storm,” they added.
In 2025, there had already been three attempts by activists to break the blockade: the Madleen (June), the Handala (July), and the Global Sumud Flotilla (Aug–Sept).
According to the Greek March to Gaza, this area falls within Greece’s SAR (Search and Rescue) zone—a maritime region where the country is responsible for locating ships and people in danger and coordinating their rescue. March to Gaza is calling for an emergency protest gathering at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 18:00.
In a video published by the organizers, an Israeli Navy officer can be heard calling on the activists to change course: “If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, you can do so through established and recognized channels.”
Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas was elected, justifying it as a measure to “prevent the import of weapons.” However, many human rights organizations and NGOs consider the blockade to be collective punishment, which is illegal under international law.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, Εfimerida ton Sintakton
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