Israeli naval forces stopped and seized control of aid ships attempting to reach Gaza, confronting the vessels in international waters near Crete on April 30, 2026.
The ships belonged to the “Global Sumud” flotilla, which organizers described as a humanitarian mission aimed at delivering aid while challenging Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Israeli forces boarded multiple vessels hundreds of miles from their destination and redirected them toward Israeli ports.
According to Israeli Army Radio, the navy had begun taking command of the Gaza-bound aid ships. The operation took place in international waters close to Greece, where several boats were commandeered and their occupants detained.
Organizers of the flotilla condemned the Israeli action, characterizing it as “piracy” and an “unlawful seizure” conducted on international waters.
The Global Solidarity Foundation posted on Instagram: “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 an SOS was issued.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the seizure as legally justified, referencing Israel’s Counterterrorism Law that allows action against vessels and assets designated for terrorist activities. Katz stated that the Global Sumud flotilla “violates UN Resolution 2803, which stipulated that aid to Gaza should enter through accepted official channels.”
The defense ministry dismissed the mission as publicity-seeking rather than genuine humanitarian work. “Like previous provocations, this is nothing but a PR stunt: a provocation without humanitarian aid,” the ministry stated. “As international media have exposed, these are professional provocateurs on pleasure cruises, addicted to self-promotion.”
This incident mirrors a comparable but smaller maritime operation that occurred in 2025, when Israeli forces similarly intercepted vessels attempting to break the Gaza blockade.
