Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Flotilla in International Waters Near Crete

Apr 30, 2026

Israeli military forces intercepted 22 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla approximately 600 nautical miles from Gaza in international waters near Crete, detaining around 175 activists including at least six Australians. The flotilla, comprising over 50 vessels with more than 400 civilians carrying humanitarian aid, represents the largest such convoy attempting to reach Gaza amid a war that has killed 72,599 people. Israel deployed drones, communications jamming, and armed raiding parties in an operation its UN Ambassador Danny Danon defended as targeting 'delusional attention-seeking agitators,' while flotilla organizers condemned the action as illegal piracy and kidnapping. This marks Israel's furthest interception of an aid flotilla, far exceeding the previous record of 72 nautical miles from Gaza, following a similar October operation that detained over 450 participants including Nelson Mandela's grandson and Greta Thunberg.

Israeli military interception of aid flotilla in international waters

▪The Global Sumud Flotilla was approximately 600 nautical miles from Gaza when Israeli forces intercepted the vessels.
▪22 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla have been intercepted by the Israeli military while 36 are still sailing towards Gaza.

Scale and context of the humanitarian mission to Gaza

▪More than 50 vessels carrying activists from multiple countries set sail from Italy on Sunday towards the Gaza Strip as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
▪Nelson Mandela's grandson, Greta Thunberg, and European Parliament Member Rima Hassan were among those arrested during the October Global Sumud Flotilla interception.
▪Over 400 civilians are on board the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels.
▪In October of the previous year, Israel's military intercepted about 40 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla and arrested more than 450 participants.