Nations around the world voiced outrage on Thursday after Israel intercepted boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza and said it would deport the pro-Palestinian activists aboard the vessels, adding that none had reached the blockaded enclave.
The flotilla, transporting medicine and food, consists of about 50 civilian boats with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists on board. Israeli troops boarded most of the vessels and detained dozens of people.
The group's progress across the Mediterranean Sea has drawn international attention. Countries including Turkey, Spain and Italy sent boats or drones in case their nationals on board required assistance. Israel has repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt.
Israeli immigration authorities have begun conducting hearings with activists of a Gaza aid flotilla on their deportation and detention orders, in the Ashdod port, without their lawyers, organisers have said.
"These proceedings were initiated without prior notice to their lawyers and while denying participants access to legal counsel," they said.
Israeli naval troops boarded most of the vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza on Thursday and detained dozens aboard, including European lawmakers, drawing widespread condemnation.
"None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade," Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement. "One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented."
According to Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, 39 of the around 45 ships have been intercepted and were headed to the Israeli port city of Ashdod, according to state broadcaster ERT.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of Israel’s entire diplomatic delegation. Two Colombians on the flotilla have been detained.
Mr Petro also terminated Colombia’s free-trade agreement with Israel. He called the detentions a potential “new international crime” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanded the release of the Colombians.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also condemned the interception, saying Israeli troops had detained eight of the predominantly Muslim country's citizens.
“By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world,” said Mr Anwar.
The interception led to street protests in Colombia, Mexico and Italy, while Italian trade unions called a general strike for Friday in solidarity with the flotilla. Hundreds turned out late on Wednesday in Rome to protest. In Naples, demonstrators blocked trains at the city's main station for an hour before being cleared by police.
Brazil also condemned Israel's interception, saying it “violates rights and endangers the physical well-being of peaceful protesters”.
“The responsibility for the safety of those detained now rests with Israel,” its Foreign Ministry said. Fifteen Brazilians are taking part in the flotilla, including legislator Luizianne Lins.
Spain summoned Israel's charge d'affaires in Madrid over the flotilla's interception. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said 65 Spaniards were travelling with the group.
Britain said it had been in touch with Israeli authorities “to make clear that we expect the situation to be resolved safely”. It urged Israel to “resolve the atrocious humanitarian crisis in Gaza”.
The US State Department said it was "monitoring" the situation and described the flotilla as "a deliberate and unnecessary provocation".
"We are currently focused on realising President [Donald] Trump’s plan to end the war, which has been universally welcomed as a historic opportunity for a lasting peace."
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X that “several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port”. It said they would be deported.
The flotilla put out several videos on Telegram, with some in the group claiming they were abducted and taken to Israel against their will. Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was among those on board. “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X.
The flotilla's organisers denounced the interception as a “war crime”. They said the Israeli military used aggressive tactics, including water cannon, but that no one was harmed.
“Multiple vessels … were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli occupation forces in international waters,” they said.
Israel's navy had previously warned the flotilla it was approaching an active combat zone and breaching a lawful blockade, and asked them to change course. It had offered to transfer any aid peacefully through safe channels to Gaza.
The boats were about 130km off Gaza when they were intercepted, inside a zone that Israel is policing to stop any vessels approaching. The organisers said their communications had been scrambled, including the use of a live camera feed from some of the boats.
The flotilla is the latest attempt to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, much of which has been turned into a wasteland by almost two years of war.
Israel has imposed its blockade since Hamas took control of the enclave in 2007 and there have been several previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.
In 2010, nine people were killed after Israeli soldiers boarded a flotilla of six ships manned by 700 pro-Palestinian activists from 50 countries. In June, Israeli naval forces detained the crew of a small ship organised by a pro-Palestinian group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as they approached Gaza.
Hamas called Israel's interception of the latest flotilla a “crime of piracy and maritime terrorism against civilians”. The group urged “all defenders of freedom in the world” to denounce it.
