Israeli naval forces have intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of more than 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 participants, including parliamentarians, lawyers, activists, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and actor Susan Sarandon, as well as aid for Gaza.
A Mexican crew member on board the flotilla, Arlin Medrano, reported in a live broadcast that a dozen Israeli military vessels were approaching the convoy in international waters, calling the interception “totally illegal” and in violation of international law.
Medrano urged the Mexican government to ensure the safety of the two Mexican citizens on board in case of interception. She said the flotilla would continue its mission even if some vessels were stopped, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza for the first time since 2007.
Organisers said the interception occurred after Israeli warships blocked communications and moved to halt the convoy. No immediate details were available regarding possible detentions or the fate of the ships.
Earlier, activists reported seeing more than a dozen Israeli vessels ahead of them and said all flotilla ships had switched to “alarm mode.”
Live footage from the Alma vessel showed crew members wearing life jackets and seated in a circle as they prepared for a possible boarding.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the flotilla was being directed toward the port of Ashdod, where aid can be unloaded and transferred to Gaza, and said Thunberg and other participants are safe.
The United Nations called for the safety and rights of those on board to be respected. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “We do not want anyone to get hurt, and we want people’s rights to be respected. We want to make sure everyone is safe.”
The flotilla, carrying humanitarian and medical supplies, set sail at the end of August from Genoa and Barcelona, aiming to reach Gaza. Marine tracking data placed the vessels about 150 nautical miles (278 km) from Gaza, an area considered high-risk due to previous interceptions.
The mission comes amid warnings from humanitarian agencies about severe shortages of food, medicine, and aid in Gaza, where a blockade has been in place for nearly 18 years.
Japan said on Sunday that Chinese fighter jets directed fire control radar at Japanese military aircraft in two incidents near the Okinawa islands, ca...
Indian authorities have ordered a magisterial inquiry and promised financial support after a fire tore through the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Ar...
Kremenchuk, an industrial centre on the Dnipro River, was struck again as Russian forces targeted facilities across the city during the night....
More than 60 Indigenous artifacts held in the Vatican for 100 years, including a rare Inuit kayak, arrived in Montreal, where First Nation, Métis and...
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defends follow-up strike on suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, denies authorizing the killing of all onboard, an...
Japan said on Sunday that Chinese fighter jets directed fire control radar at Japanese military aircraft in two incidents near the Okinawa islands, calling the moves dangerous. China denied the allegation.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defends follow-up strike on suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, denies authorizing the killing of all onboard, and comments on protocols for military operations.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
‘We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that the peace plan for Gaza is put into action as soon as possible and that this humanitarian tragedy comes to an end,’ Turkish top diplomat Fidan tells Anadolu
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has finalized the group stage for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, setting the schedule and matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team event.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for its support of the claims by United Arab Emirates on three Iranian islands.
China’s national security office in Hong Kong on Saturday cautioned foreign media against spreading “false information” or attempting to “smear” government efforts in responding to the city’s deadliest fire in nearly 80 years.
Japan said on Sunday that Chinese fighter jets directed fire control radar at Japanese military aircraft in two incidents near the Okinawa islands, calling the moves dangerous. China denied the allegation.
Indian authorities have ordered a magisterial inquiry and promised financial support after a fire tore through the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, killing 25 people.
More than 60 Indigenous artifacts held in the Vatican for 100 years, including a rare Inuit kayak, arrived in Montreal, where First Nation, Métis and Inuvialuit leaders welcomed them home with ceremony, song and emotion.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defends follow-up strike on suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, denies authorizing the killing of all onboard, and comments on protocols for military operations.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday that preparations are under way for a substantial business mission to Moscow, describing the visit as an exclusively economic engagement.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment