Israel Intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla Ship, A Number Of Activities And Aid Taken To Port

One of the ships is on Global Sumud Flotilla. (GSF/Gulcin Bekar)

JAKARTA - Israel's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said in a statement it had intercepted a number of aid fleet ships sailing into the Gaza Strip and taken them to the country's ports.

The ships were about 70 nautical miles from war-torn enclaves when they were intercepted, within Israel's supervised zone to prevent any vessels from approaching.

Organizers said their communications had been tampered with, including the use of live camera feeds from several ships.

Israeli forces boarded several ships carrying foreign activists and aid to Gaza, taking them to the Israeli port.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her friends are "safe and healthy," the ministry said in a post on X along with a video that appears to show Greta and several Israeli military personnel wearing masks and guns.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Global Sumud Flotilla (@globalsumudflotilla)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Global Sumud Flotilla (@globalsumudflotilla)

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

A post shared by Global Sumud Flotilla (@globalsumudflotilla)

Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which transports medicine and food to Gaza, consists of more than 40 civilian ships with about 500 lawmakers, lawyers and activists.

The fleet released several videos on Telegram containing messages from people on board various ships, some holding their passports stating they had been kidnapped and taken to Israel beyond their will, reaffirming that their mission was a violent humanitarian mission.

GSF's journey across the Mediterranean Sea drew international attention, as countries including Turkey, Spain and Italy sent ships or drones if their nationals needed help, though it sparked repeated warnings from Israel to turn around.

The Flotila is the latest attempt by sea to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, which has largely turned into a desert due to the war for nearly two years.

The organizers of the fleet denounce Wednesday's attack as a "war crime." They said the military used aggressive tactics, including the use of water cannons, but no one was injured.

"Some ships were intercepted and illegally boarded by Israeli Population Forces in international waters," organizers said in a statement.

Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy. pic.twitter.com/PA1ezier9s

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 1, 2025

Already several vehicles of the Hamas-Sumud floatilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy. pic.twitter.com/PA1ezier9s

The fleet also accused the Israeli Navy of trying to sink the Maria status ship. Reuters could not independently confirm the report. Meanwhile, the Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the claim.

Separately, Ankara said Israeli measures had been taken to free Turkish citizens and others on board, while Spain called on Israel to protect the safety and rights of activists.

"The report tonight is very concerning. It is a peaceful mission to highlight the terrible humanitarian catastrophe," Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris tweeted on X.

The fleet has repeatedly urged governments and international agencies to demand the safety and release of unarmed humanitarian workers on duty.

According to fleet ship tracking data, a total of 13 ships had been intercepted or stopped until Thursday morning. The organizers remain adamant, saying in a statement that the fleet "will continue to sail without fear".

Thirty ships are still sailing towards Gaza, the fleet said in a post on Telegram on Thursday morning, adding it was 46 nautical miles from their destination.

Initially, GSF hoped to arrive in Gaza on Thursday morning if not intercepted.

The Israeli Navy had previously warned the fleet that it was approaching active combat zones and violating legitimate blockades, and asked them to change course. The Israeli Navy has offered to transfer any aid peacefully through a safe route to Gaza.

It is known that prior to the interception, mission organizers said two Israeli "warships" had surrounded the two fleet ships and disrupted their communications on Wednesday morning.

Last week, the fleet was attacked by an unmanned plane (drone), which dropped stun grenades and powdered powder on the ships, causing damage but no injuries.

Israel did not comment on the drone's attack, but said it would use any means to prevent the ships from reaching Gaza, arguing that its sea blockade was legitimate because it was battling Hamas militants in the coastal enclave.

UN experts on Palestinian rightsung Albanese in a press conference held by organizers on Wednesday warned that any interception of the fleet would be "international law violations," as Israel does not have legal jurisdiction over waters off the coast of Gaza.

Israel has imposed a sea blockade in Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007. There have previously been several attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.

In 2010, nine activists died after Israeli soldiers boarded a fleet of six ships manned by 700 pro-Palestinian activists from 50 countries.

In June this year, Israeli naval forces detained Thunberg and 11 crew members of a small ship organized by a pro-Palestinian group called Freedom Flotilla as they approached Gaza.