April 30, 2026 | 12:06 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet carrying pro-Palestinian activists attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, stated on Thursday, April 30, 2026, that their vessels were surrounded by the Israeli military.
The convoy, consisting of more than 100 ships, set sail in recent weeks from Marseille, Barcelona, and Syracuse.
In a post on X late Wednesday, as reported by Arab News, the Global Sumud Flotilla stated that Israeli military vessels "illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and threatened kidnapping and violence."
"Communications with 11 vessels have been lost," the organization added.
The fleet is currently positioned off the coast of Greece, near Crete, according to live tracking data on the organization’s website.
"Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘israel’, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees. Boat communications are being jammed and a SOS was issued," the organization further reported.
Meanwhile, Israel claimed to have initiated operations to seize control of aid ships bound for Gaza while they were still far from Israeli shores, according to military sources cited by Israeli military radio on Wednesday and reported by Al Arabiya.
The report did not specify the number of ships involved or their precise coordinates.
In late 2025, an initial fleet of approximately 50 boats, which included high-profile figures like Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, was raided by the Israeli navy in an operation that organizers and Amnesty International labeled illegal.
The crew members were subsequently arrested and deported by Israel.
The Gaza Strip, governed by the Palestinian group Hamas, has endured an Israeli blockade since 2007. Since October 2023, Israel has carried out a genocide in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 72,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children.
Approximately 1.5 million of Gaza's 2.4 million residents have been displaced after their homes were destroyed during the offensive. Both Israel and Hamas have exchanged accusations over violations of a ceasefire that commenced on October 10, 2025, following two years of conflict.
Greece Accused of Assisting Israel
Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis issued a scathing critique of Athens following reports that Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla near Greek territorial waters on Wednesday night.
"Just spoke to friends on the Global Sumud Flotilla. Israeli vessels & drones are harassing them off the coast of Crete," he posted on X, as reported by Anadolu.
"The Greek government is either complicit or incapable of defending our seas from Israel," he emphasized.
The Greek government and Israeli officials did not immediately offer a response to Varoufakis' comments.
The fleet, laden with humanitarian aid for Gaza, seeks to dismantle the Israeli blockade and establish a maritime humanitarian corridor.
The confrontation occurred hours after Hebrew media outlets reported that Israel was preparing to intercept the convoy of 100 ships, which was carrying nearly 1,000 activists from various nations.
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