Israeli naval forces intercepted ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla late Wednesday carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip more than 500 nautical miles away or 926 km, making this interception the furthest away in a long history of maritime assaults aimed at breaking Israel’s illegal blockade, Anadolu reports.
The Israeli navy intercepted the vessels in international waters near the Greek island of Crete by surrounding the convoy, jamming communications. As of April 30, 22 vessels have been seized in the 58-strong flotilla, with several of them managing to escape and enter Greek waters following the incident.
Since 2009, Israel has illegally intercepted and attacked all humanitarian aid flotillas attempting to break its 19-year siege on Gaza. Even though a ceasefire has been in place since October 2025, Israel has continued to restrict food and medicine deliveries, pushing the enclave into famine and starvation.
Israel’s attacks on humanitarian sea missions aiming to reach Gaza go back more than a decade, with at least 10 previous flotillas intercepted or attacked.
– Spirit of Humanity
On June 29, 2009, the Israeli navy intercepted the Spirit of Humanity, a vessel operated by the Free Gaza Movement, some 20 nautical miles off the Gaza coast.
The boat, which departed from Larnaca in the Greek Cypriot Administration, was carrying humanitarian aid and medical supplies, with 21 passengers onboard.
Surrounded by Israeli gunboats, which threatened to open fire, it was seized and escorted to Ashdod, where all the passengers were detained.
– Mavi Marmara
One of the most high-profile Israeli attacks on humanitarian attempts to break the blockade came on May 31, 2010, when Israeli forces stormed Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara as it was sailing in international waters toward Gaza.
The raid resulted in the deaths of 10 activists and injuries to more than 50 people. The vessel was part of a larger flotilla of eight ships carrying about 750 people from 37 countries and 10,000 tons of aid.
Severely straining Türkiye-Israeli relations, the attack prompted Ankara to demand an official apology, compensation, and an end to the blockade.
– Tahrir and MV Saoirse
In November 2011, Israeli naval forces intercepted two vessels, the Canadian Tahrir and Irish MV Saoirse, in international waters about 50 nautical miles from Gaza.
Sailing under the “Freedom Waves to Gaza” banner, the boats carried activists seeking to break the blockade.
All the passengers were detained and later deported.
– Marianne
In June 2015, the Swedish vessel Marianne was intercepted by Israeli forces around 100 nautical miles from Gaza.
The vessel was part of the Freedom Flotilla III, which carried 48 rights activists and journalists.
Most of the participants were detained in Israel’s Givon Prison before being released.
The Marianne was taken to the Port of Ashdod, while the other three ships in the group were turned back.
– Al-Awda and Freedom
In summer 2018, two boats, the Al-Awda and the Freedom, tried to protest the blockade.
On July 29 and Aug. 3, they were intercepted and seized during another Freedom Flotilla mission.
The ships were stopped in international waters, and activists on board reported being beaten during the seizure.
– Conscience
On May 2, 2025, Freedom Flotilla Coalition boat the Conscience was struck by drones in international waters off Malta while en route to Gaza.
The coalition, which operated the vessel, accused Israel of carrying out the attack. In a statement, the group said: “Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters.”
The Maltese government said 16 people — 12 crew members and four civilians — were on board.
– Madleen
The Madleen, an 18-meter vessel part of a mission organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters on June 9, 2025.
Less than 100 nautical miles from Gaza, all 12 people on board – including 11 international activists and a journalist – were detained, and the boat was towed to Israel’s Port of Ashdod.
The Madleen was carrying several hundred kilograms of flour, rice, baby formula, and medical and sanitary essentials for the Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
– Handala
On July 26, 2025, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Handala aid ship as it neared Gaza’s shores.
It detained all 21 activists onboard, and escorted it to Ashdod.
The vessel had reached about 70 nautical miles from Gaza, surpassing the distance covered by the Madleen, which made it 110 miles before it was stopped.
– Global Sumud Flotilla
On Oct. 1, 2025, Israeli forces attacked the vessels of the Global Sumud aid flotilla, made up of about 50 ships with over 500 activists. Israel initially detained at least 317 activists who were on board, gradually taking in all of them by Oct. 3.
The detained activists were taken to Israel’s Ashdod Port, from where they were deported over the next 10 days.
The flotilla had set sail in August carrying baby food, medical supplies, and other humanitarian aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
– Freedom Flotilla Coalition of a ‘Thousand Madleens to Gaza’
A flotilla of nine ships, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza, set sail shortly after the Global Sumud Flotilla and was intercepted on Oct. 8, about 120 nautical miles from Gaza.
There were around 150 activists on board who were detained and deported by Oct. 12.
One of the ships was the Conscience, which had been struck by Malta earlier in the year.
