Israel intercepts and detains crews of Gaza aid flotillas near Crete

Israeli navy seizes flotilla vessels off Crete

Israeli naval forces intercepted multiple vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near the Greek island of Crete earlier this week, detaining activists who were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s maritime blockade. Most of those taken into custody were later transferred to Greek authorities and brought ashore on Crete, while two activists remained in Israeli hands for questioning.

According to reporting across ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, BBC — World, Dawn, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian — World and the Jerusalem Post, the operation targeted boats that had sailed from ports including Barcelona, Marseille and Syracuse as part of a larger convoy of roughly 50 to 58 vessels. Organisers and Israeli officials differed on exact figures, with Israel’s foreign ministry stating that around 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 boats and flotilla representatives putting the number detained as high as 211. Tracker data cited by several outlets indicated that 22 boats had been intercepted while dozens of others continued sailing.

Israeli Defence Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the detained crew members would be disembarked on a Greek beach and that all participants taken off the vessels were unharmed. On Friday an Israeli army ship transferred 168 members of the flotilla crew to Greek boats, which then took them to Crete, where buses and an ambulance waited, according to organisers and footage referenced by Al Jazeera and Dawn. Greek authorities had prepared to receive the group at locations including Atherinolakkos on the southern coast.

Two activists—Saif Abu Keshek, described as a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Ávila—were retained by Israeli authorities and transported to Israel. Israel’s foreign ministry said Abu Keshek was suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and Ávila of illegal activity. Flotilla organisers demanded their immediate release and said both men later undertook hunger strikes while held at Shikma Prison in Ashkelon.

Coverage comparison

Reporting by ABC Australia focused heavily on the Australian contingent. Six Australians were named as being aboard intercepted vessels—Surya McEwen, Dr Bianca Pullman Webb, Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor, Zack Schofield and Cameron Tribe—with consular officials in Crete to provide assistance. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was liaising with authorities in Israel and Greece. ABC Australia later carried an account from activist Zack Schofield, who described stress positions, forceful searches, the sinking of his boat and injuries among crew mates after release on Crete; Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied mistreatment and said force was used only after some passengers refused transfer and rioted.

Al Jazeera and Dawn emphasised the distance of the interception—hundreds of miles or roughly 600 nautical miles from Gaza—and the presence of journalists among those detained, including Al Jazeera correspondent Hafed Mribah and cameraman Mahmut Yavuz. Reporters Without Borders condemned what it called the kidnapping of the journalists. Al Jazeera also reported that remaining vessels regrouped toward the Turkish port of Marmaris and that more than 30 boats later reached the Turkish coast.

BBC — World and The Guardian — World detailed the sequence of boarding, communications jamming and the transfer process, quoting flotilla statements that described the action as piracy and an unlawful seizure in international waters. Both noted Israel’s characterisation of the flotilla as a “PR stunt” and its insistence that the naval blockade is lawful. The Jerusalem Post reported Israeli statements that the navy had warned vessels to turn back and that activists were moved peacefully, while also covering later plans for flotilla leadership meetings in Marmaris and court appearances for the two men held in Israel. Deutsche Welle summarised the seizure of more than twenty ships carrying about 175 people near Greece.

Numbers and terminology varied across outlets: Israeli official tallies clustered around 175 detainees from more than 20 boats, while organisers cited 211 people or 168 transferred to Crete and described the boats as having been “stormed” or subjected to a “violent raid.” Several sources noted that each ship carried roughly a tonne of food, medical supplies and equipment.

Key claims

• Israeli forces intercepted at least 22 Global Sumud Flotilla vessels in international waters near Crete, using speedboats, jamming technology and boarding parties (reported by Al Jazeera, BBC — World, The Guardian — World, Dawn, Jerusalem Post).
• Approximately 175 activists were detained according to Israel’s foreign ministry; flotilla organisers put the figure at 211 or stated that 168 were transferred to Crete (Al Jazeera, BBC — World, Dawn, ABC Australia).
• Most detainees were handed to Greek authorities and brought ashore on Crete; two men, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila, were taken to Israel for questioning on suspicion of terrorist affiliation and illegal activity respectively (BBC — World, Al Jazeera, Dawn, Jerusalem Post).
• Flotilla organisers described the interception as piracy, an illegal detention and a violent raid far from Israeli waters; Israel called the flotilla a provocation and PR stunt and said its actions complied with international law (multiple outlets).
• Australian activist Zack Schofield alleged stress positions, beatings, rubber-bullet injuries and the sinking of his boat; Israel’s foreign ministry denied mistreatment and attributed the use of force to rioting during transfer (ABC Australia).
• Journalists including Al Jazeera’s Hafed Mribah and Mahmut Yavuz were among those detained; Reporters Without Borders condemned their seizure (Al Jazeera).
• Italy called for the immediate release of its nationals; a joint statement by Pakistan, Türkiye, Brazil, Jordan, Spain, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Colombia, Maldives, South Africa and Libya condemned the action as a violation of international law; Spain summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires (Dawn, Al Jazeera, Jerusalem Post).
• Remaining vessels continued toward Türkiye, with leadership planning meetings in Marmaris to revise strategy; more than 30 boats later reached the Turkish coast (Al Jazeera, Jerusalem Post).

Perspectives

Israeli officials maintained that the naval blockade of Gaza is lawful and necessary, that the flotilla constituted a provocative public-relations exercise rather than a genuine humanitarian mission, and that activists were handled without harm except where force was required to complete transfers after rioting. Defence Minister Gideon Sa’ar and the foreign ministry stressed coordination with Greece and compliance with international law.

Flotilla organisers and participants characterised the interception as illegal piracy and kidnapping on the high seas, hundreds of miles from Israeli territory, and an attack on unarmed civilian vessels carrying aid. They asserted that communications were jammed, boats were damaged, and some crew members were injured or mistreated, and they demanded the release of all detainees while insisting the mission would continue.

Several governments and international actors expressed concern or condemnation. Italy and a group of eleven countries including Pakistan, Spain and South Africa called the detention unlawful and urged immediate release and respect for international law. Spain’s foreign minister specifically demanded the release of Saif Abu Keshek. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the detentions as a brazen violation of international law. The U.S. State Department, by contrast, labelled the flotilla a pro-Hamas initiative undermining peace efforts.