Israel has intercepted aid ships for Gaza in international waters near Greece, flotilla organisers said on Thursday (30 April), decrying the move as an "escalation of Israel's impunity".
A second flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona on 12 April. The group said it aimed to challenge the long-standing blockade on the territory.
The organisers, Global Sumud Flotilla, said several vessels were seized hundreds of miles (1,111 km) from Gaza, near the Greek island of Crete. They reported that seven out of 58 boats had been taken.
“Israeli military boats have illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and threatened kidnapping and violence,” the flotilla said in a post on social media.
“Communication with 11 vessels have been lost and Israeli media claims that 7 boats have been intercepted. Governments must act now to protect the flotilla.”
"This is piracy," the group said in a statement. "This is the unlawful seizure of human beings on the open sea near Crete, an assertion that Israel can operate with total impunity, far beyond its own borders, with no consequences."
The group added that no state had the right to control international waters, accusing Israel of extending its reach into the Mediterranean.
Organisers said Israeli forces used drones, communication jamming and armed boarding teams to stop the boats.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said the flotilla "was stopped before reaching our area".
In a post on X, he added, "Our brave IDF soldiers are acting with professionalism and determination dealing with a group of delusional attention-seeking agitators."
Israeli media, including Army Radio, reported that the military had begun taking control of vessels heading towards Gaza.
More than 50 boats carrying activists from several countries had set sail earlier this month. Organisers described it as one of the largest attempts to deliver aid to Gaza by sea.
Israel, which controls access to Gaza, denies restricting supplies to the Strip's population of more than two million people. However, Palestinian officials and international aid organisations say deliveries remain below what is needed, even after a ceasefire agreement in October that included provisions for increased aid.
A similar flotilla organised by the same group was intercepted last October.
Israeli forces detained more than 450 people, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. Some of those held later alleged mistreatment in custody. Tel Aviv denied these claims calling them "brazen lies." Israel later deported those detained during the operation.
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