Vessels carrying about 500 activists including Greta Thunberg intercepted about 75 miles off coast of war-torn territory.
Israeli military boards Global Sumud aid flotilla headed for Gaza – Middle East crisis live.
Vessels carrying about 500 activists including Greta Thunberg intercepted about 75 miles off coast of war-torn territory.
Israeli naval forces board pro-Palestinian flotilla 75 miles from Gaza.
By José Olivares/The Guardian
Wed 1 Oct 2025 16.34 EDT
Israel intercepts humanitarian flotilla headed to Gaza, with forces boarding some boats.
At least 20 Israeli military vessels have boarded a pro-Palestinian flotilla roughly 75 miles off the coast of Gaza, as it attempted to breach the maritime blockade and bring humanitarian aid.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including the Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and the actor Susan Sarandon, was heading towards Gaza bringing humanitarian aid despite repeated warnings from Israel to turn back.
“You are approaching a blockaded zone,” an Israeli Navy official announced to the flotilla. “If you wish to deliver aid to Gaza, you may do so through the established channels,” instructing the boats to change course.
The vessels were sailing in international waters north of Egypt on Wednesday afternoon and entered what has been described as a “danger zone” or “high risk zone”. While still in international waters, it is an area where the Israeli navy has stopped other boats attempting to break its blockade in the past.
About 7.25 pm, roughly 20 Israeli naval ships approached the flotilla and ordered the boats to turn off their engines, activists said on social media. Live footage from the flotilla showed passengers seated in a semi-circle, wearing lifejackets as they awaited interception. A number of camera live-feeds have gone offline.
Several of the activists onboard the boats released pre-recorded videos on their social media accounts, telling viewers that if they were watching the videos, it meant they had been captured by Israeli forces.
The interceptions were confirmed by the Israeli foreign ministry, which said: ‘‘The Israeli navy has reached out to the Gaza aid flotilla and asked them to change course toward Israeli port of Ashdod where aid can be unloaded and transferred to Gaza Strip.”
Vessels carrying about 500 activists including Greta Thunberg intercepted about 75 miles off coast of war-torn territory.
Israeli naval forces board pro-Palestinian flotilla 75 miles from Gaza.
By José Olivares/The Guardian
Wed 1 Oct 2025 16.34 EDT
Israel intercepts humanitarian flotilla headed to Gaza, with forces boarding some boats.
At least 20 Israeli military vessels have boarded a pro-Palestinian flotilla roughly 75 miles off the coast of Gaza, as it attempted to breach the maritime blockade and bring humanitarian aid.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including the Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and the actor Susan Sarandon, was heading towards Gaza bringing humanitarian aid despite repeated warnings from Israel to turn back.
“You are approaching a blockaded zone,” an Israeli Navy official announced to the flotilla. “If you wish to deliver aid to Gaza, you may do so through the established channels,” instructing the boats to change course.
The vessels were sailing in international waters north of Egypt on Wednesday afternoon and entered what has been described as a “danger zone” or “high risk zone”. While still in international waters, it is an area where the Israeli navy has stopped other boats attempting to break its blockade in the past.
About 7.25 pm, roughly 20 Israeli naval ships approached the flotilla and ordered the boats to turn off their engines, activists said on social media. Live footage from the flotilla showed passengers seated in a semi-circle, wearing lifejackets as they awaited interception. A number of camera live-feeds have gone offline.
Several of the activists onboard the boats released pre-recorded videos on their social media accounts, telling viewers that if they were watching the videos, it meant they had been captured by Israeli forces.
The interceptions were confirmed by the Israeli foreign ministry, which said: ‘‘The Israeli navy has reached out to the Gaza aid flotilla and asked them to change course toward Israeli port of Ashdod where aid can be unloaded and transferred to Gaza Strip.”
