A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza said Thursday that dozens of its vessels were still pressing ahead towards the besieged Palestinian territory, despite an Israeli naval interception that halted part of the convoy, including a ship carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, involving around 45 boats and carrying hundreds of activists, politicians, and aid workers, departed from Spain last month. Organizers say the mission aims to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, where the UN warns famine is already taking hold amid ongoing war.
Despite the Israeli navy stopping 13 vessels on Wednesday evening, the flotilla announced that around 30 boats were still en route early Thursday morning and were within 46 nautical miles of the Gaza coast.
“30 boats still sailing strong on their way to Gaza, just 46 nautical miles away, despite the incessant aggressions from the Israeli occupation navy,” flotilla organizers posted on X at 3:20 am local time.
Interception and fallout
Flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek confirmed that 13 boats carrying around 200 people — many from Spain and Italy — had been intercepted by the Israeli navy, which warned vessels against entering waters it claims fall under its blockade.
Israeli authorities said the intercepted vessels were being escorted safely to an Israeli port, and confirmed that Greta Thunberg and others were safe and in good health.
The flotilla, however, denounced the move as a violation of international law, saying the vessels were in international waters at the time of the interceptions.
“Live streams and communications with several other vessels have been lost,” organizers added.
The Hamas movement condemned the Israeli action as “piracy and maritime terrorism,” while Colombia`s President Gustavo Petro announced he would expel all remaining Israeli diplomats in response.
International response and political tensions
Both Spain and Italy, which provided naval escorts for the mission, had urged the flotilla to stop before entering Israel’s declared 150-nautical-mile exclusion zone off Gaza.
Italian officials warned that continuing the voyage could undermine U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan, which is reportedly under discussion. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez offered contrasting tones, with Sánchez urging Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu not to view the activists as a threat.
Meanwhile, supporters across Europe rallied in solidarity with the flotilla. In Rome, hundreds turned out in protest on Wednesday night, and in Naples, pro-Palestinian demonstrators temporarily blocked train lines at the city’s main station.
In Italy, unions have called for another strike on Friday, urging stronger opposition to Israeli actions.
Tensions at sea
The flotilla had paused in Tunisia for 10 days earlier this month, where organizers reported being targeted by two drone attacks. Since resuming on September 15, some vessels have reported aggressive maneuvers by Israeli warships.
One ship, the Alma, was said to be “aggressively circled” by an Israeli vessel, while another, the Sirius, experienced similar harassment.
“They are determined. They are motivated,” said Abukeshek in a video on Instagram, vowing that the remaining boats will continue trying to deliver aid to Gaza.
Israel has blocked several similar flotilla attempts in recent months, including ones in June and July, citing security concerns and the need to enforce its blockade of the Hamas-controlled enclave.
As of Thursday morning, the fate of the remaining vessels remained uncertain, with communications partially cut, and the situation at sea developing rapidly.
