October 2, 2025 | 12:26 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Israeli military intercepted several vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla on Wednesday night. The ships were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and protest the ongoing genocide, according to statements from both the organizers and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a video showing Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, a passenger on the main vessel Alma, calmly interacting with a military official. The ministry stated that "some ships" from the fleet had been "safely stopped" and their passengers transferred to an Israeli port.
The flotilla organizers, however, offered a conflicting update. As reported by Al Jazeera, the group claimed approximately 30 ships were still sailing toward Gaza, "just 46 nautical miles [85km] away, despite the incessant aggressions from the Israeli occupation navy."
Organizers stated on social media that the Israeli navy forces had "intercepted and boarded" at least three of the flotilla's 44 ships (carrying around 500 activists) in international waters, about 70 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. They characterized the action as "an illegal attack on unarmed humanitarian workers."
The activists alleged that Israeli forces targeted several ships with "active aggression." They claimed the Florida was "deliberately rammed at sea," while the Yulara, Meteque, and others were hit with water cannons.
A video showing several ships being targeted with water cannons was also uploaded by the organizers. So far, the activist group confirmed six ships intercepted: Deir Yassin/Mali, Huga, Spectre, Adara, Alma, and Sirius.
Prior to the interception, activists had warned that the Israeli military was cutting off their communications by disabling equipment, affecting their cameras, live broadcasts, and communication systems.
All passengers aboard were reported unharmed. The ships had successfully passed the point where the Madleen Flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces earlier this year.
The Global Sumud Flotilla seeks to deliver food and other goods to the besieged enclave, openly challenging Israel’s long-standing naval blockade. Some areas in Gaza have reportedly suffered from severe food shortages in recent months, according to a UN-supported food expert panel.
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