'Piracy': Israel raids Gaza-bound aid flotilla off Greek coast
Israeli naval forces raided Gaza-bound aid vessels in international waters hundreds of nautical miles from the besieged enclave late on Wednesday.
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission, at least 15 boats were raided, with those on board “abducted” by Israeli forces and unaccounted for.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats were in Israeli custody.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said various vessels were “systematically disabled” after being raided, leaving activists stranded at sea.
“After smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays, the military retreated - intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm,” it said.
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"Furthermore, communications with multiple vessels have been jammed, severing their ability to coordinate or signal for help.”
The seizure of the boats took place about 600 nautical miles from Gaza’s shores, off the coast of the Greek island of Crete.
Shortly before the raid, activists said they were approached by military speedboats identifying themselves as Israeli. Soldiers reportedly pointed lasers and semi-automatic weapons at those on board, ordering them to get on their hands and knees. They added that boat communications were being jammed.
“This is piracy. 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,” organisers said in a statement.
“No state has the right to claim, police, or occupy international waters. Yet, that is exactly what Israel has done, extending its regime of control outward, occupying the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Europe."
Gaza blockade
An estimated 58 vessels carrying around 1,000 activists set out from Spain earlier this month, aiming to break the Israeli-imposed siege of the Gaza Strip while delivering humanitarian aid. It was described as the “largest coordinated civilian maritime mobilisation” by the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon, hailed the raid in a post on X.
"Another provocative flotilla was stopped before reaching our area," he said.
"Our brave IDF (Israeli army) soldiers are acting with professionalism and determination dealing with a group of delusional attention-seeking agitators."
In an audio message sent to the flotilla and documented by activists, an Israeli soldier said the blockade of Gaza was a “lawful maritime security blockade” and that attempts to breach it “constitute a violation of international law”.
Israel launched a devastating genocide in Gaza in 2023, blocking food, water, aid and electricity from reaching the enclave, while carrying out sustained air strikes for more than two years.
The bombardment has killed at least 72,500 Palestinians, with an estimated 8,000 more missing. The blockade has led to famine being declared in parts of Gaza, while most hospitals, homes and schools have been destroyed.
Despite a ceasefire signed last year, Israel has continued to impose restrictions on Gaza in violation of the agreement, leaving the humanitarian crisis unresolved.
Several flotillas have attempted similar voyages towards Gaza during the conflict, but were similarly intercepted and redirected towards Israeli shores.
The latest seizures, carried out hundreds of miles from Gaza’s coast, were the farthest from the enclave, as previous raids had taken place closer to shore.
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