“Pro-Palestinian activists say 22 boats from a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza have been intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near the Greek island of Crete,” reports the BBC.  “The organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) denounced the action as ‘piracy’, saying those on board were seized unlawfully more than 965km from Gaza, which is under an Israeli naval blockade. Israel’s foreign ministry said about 175 activists were detained.”

Most of the remaining 36 boats in the flotilla remain close to Crete’s south coast. The flotilla set sail two weeks ago, with a total of 58 vessels joining from Spain, France and Italy, aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

On Thursday, the GSF said Israeli naval forces had “intercepted, boarded, and systematically disabled and destroyed various boats” in the flotilla during a “violent raid in international waters” north-west of Crete overnight. “Over 180 civilians from around the world have been directly attacked,” it added.

“After detaining participants, smashing an engine and jamming communications, the [Israeli forces] retreated, kidnapping participants or intentionally leaving civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm.”

Flotilla organisers said: “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.”

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 a Paris Communist municipal councillor, Raphaelle Primet, and another ten French nationals.

The sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, Margaret Connolly, is on board one of the vessels that is part of the flotilla, although it is understood that the ship she is on was not intercepted by Israeli forces and is still sailing towards Greece.

Caoimhe Butterly, who is an Irish activist on board an independent observer vessel following the flotillas, said the ages of those detained range from mid-20s to a mariner who is 76 years old.

The latest flotilla effort, the Global Sumud Flotilla, includes more than 400 people from over 70 nations. It is now the fifth humanitarian flotilla that Israel has intercepted in the past two years.

Gur Tsabar, a spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, described Israel’s boarding of its vessels as “a straight-up attack on unarmed civilian boats in international waters”.

“This is illegal under international law. Israel has no jurisdiction in these waters. Boarding these boats amounts to illegal detention – potentially kidnapping on the high seas,” said Tsabar. “It’s critical that all governments act now. Every government has an obligation to protect the over 400 civilians on board and to uphold international law. Silence in this moment is absolute complicity.”

Greenpeace International’s Pujarini Sen, Project Lead on board the Arctic Sunrise, the flotilla’s most prominent ship, said: “Greenpeace stands in solidarity with the people of Gaza and with the many brave individuals risking their freedom and safety aboard the flotilla. Humanitarian assistance must be respected and protected at all times and at all costs.

“We renew our call on world leaders to take concrete and immediate action in the face of the genocide being inflicted by Israel on the people of Gaza. The international community’s ongoing failure to enforce international law leaves it culpable for Israel’s actions.

“The Israeli government continues to enforce a full blockade by land and sea of aid and food from international organisations. Blocking aid and targeting those who attempt to deliver it are violations of international humanitarian law.”

Ukrainian dimension

The European Network for Solidarity with Ukraine (ENSU) says the vessel carrying the Ukrainian team as part of the Sumud Global Flotilla 2026 was one of those illegally seized by the Israeli Navy early this morning.

ENSU coordinator Szymon Martys described the raid as “a blatant and cynical attack on unarmed vessels navigating peacefully in international waters.” He demanded the immediate release of the detained crews, which include the Ukrainian team of Nina Potarska and Andrii Movchan.

“They must all be freed immediately,” he added, and called on the Ukrainian government, along with the governments of all the kidnapped crews, to demand their immediate release. “ENSU also supports the demand that the Greek Coast Guard protect the flotilla, some of whose ships have had their engines disabled by the Israeli Navy.”

Martys commented that the Israeli’s government’s action – attacking the flotilla when it was over 600 nautical miles from Gaza and before public attention on its mission would be at a peak – betrayed its fear of the power of international solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“We in the Ukraine solidarity movement understand this truth,” he added. “Powerful governments, like Netanyahu’s and Putin’s, although armed to the teeth, can be brought low by the mass mobilisation of all who stand for the rights of peoples. The Sumud Global Flotilla is symbol of popular indignation at the murderous violence of war and of people’s determination to stand with the oppressed.”

The Ukrainian team had joined the Sumud Global Flotilla to help the humanitarian effort for the blockaded people of Gaza, towards whom they, as members of a nation also victim of brutal invasion, feel a special duty of solidarity.

Reaction

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, said: “How on earth is possible that Israel is allowed to assault and seize vessels in international waters just off Greece/Europe?”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez slammed Israel, saying it “is once again violating international law by assaulting a civilian flotilla in waters that do not belong to it.”

“The EU must suspend the association agreement NOW and demand that Netanyahu comply with the law of our seas,” he added, referring to the 2,000 trade and relations agreement between the European Union and Israel.

UK citizens are among those kidnapped. Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP said: “Israel’s navy committed an act of armed piracy in international waters, threatening unarmed civilians on the Global Sumud Flotilla. Our government must condemn this attack, extend diplomatic protection to British participants on the flotilla and work to ensure its safe passage.”

Apsana Begum MP agreed: “These civilians felt by conscience unable to stand by while Israel continues to pursue starvation in Gaza. The UK Government must push for their immediate release, now!”

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP said: “This is piracy – and is a flagrant violation of international law.”

SOS Mediterranee France said on X that “attacking or threatening” Global Sumud Flotilla vessels “in international waters constitutes a violation of maritime law.

“Furthermore, the Geneva Conventions are clear: Any person engaged in a humanitarian mission must be protected. Solidarity is not a crime, Preventing aid, however, is,” the group added.

Image: c/o ENSU.