Israeli naval forces intercepted an international aid flotilla bound for Gaza on Thursday, detaining more than 450 activists and seizing more than 40 vessels, according to flotilla organisers and Israeli officials.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said on social media that 42 boats were intercepted and their passengers transferred to Ashdod Port in southern Israel. Activists came from more than 45 countries, including Spain, Italy, Brazil, Türkiye, Greece, the United States, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and France.
One ship, the Marinette, was reported to still be sailing, around 80 nautical miles from Gaza after delays caused by technical issues. Cameras broadcasting live showed armed Israeli personnel boarding vessels, with passengers wearing life vests and raising their hands. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later released video showing Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg seated on a deck surrounded by soldiers.
Israel confirmed that those detained would be deported to Europe in the coming days. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he expected deportations to begin early next week, while Turkish authorities said they had launched an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens.
The interception triggered protests in several cities, including London, Madrid, Rome, Karachi, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City. Italian unions announced a general strike for Friday in response. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the operation, while South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for the release of South Africans on board, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela.
The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG) alleged Israeli naval forces used water cannons, ramming and forcible boarding, and mistreated detainees. These claims could not be independently verified. The flotilla organisers said their vessels were less than 80 nautical miles from Gaza when intercepted. Activists reported communications being jammed. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said the operation lasted around 12 hours, with all intercepted ships towed to Ashdod.
The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid such as medical supplies and food, set sail in late August. It was the largest convoy in years to attempt to reach Gaza, consisting of more than 40 civilian vessels with parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists on board.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said Thursday that 11 ships remain sailing toward Gaza to challenge Israel’s blockade. Two vessels flying Italian and French flags departed Otranto on 25 September, joined by the Conscience on 30 September, and are expected to link with the “Thousand Madleens to Gaza” convoy.
Around 100 people are on board the boats, currently off the coast of Crete, according to the FFC.
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...
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday that preparations are under way for a substantial business mission to Moscow, describing the vi...
Eighteen migrants drowned when their boat overturned 26 miles (40 km) south of the Greek island of Chrysi, after a Turkish cargo ship spotted the vess...
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
A giant Christmas tree adorned with red and gold baubles stands in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for the first time since 2022.
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.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy that highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its ties with the European Union.
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.
Eighteen migrants drowned when their boat overturned 26 miles (40 km) south of the Greek island of Chrysi, after a Turkish cargo ship spotted the vessel and alerted Greek authorities.
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.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment