IN HOT WATER: Greta Thunberg and dozens of other activists have been detained after the largest Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted by Israel. Only one vessel remains, last tracked just miles from Gaza before contact was lost, organizers say.

IN HOT WATER: Greta Thunberg and dozens of other activists have been detained after the largest Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted by Israel.

 

In a dramatic escalation of maritime confrontation, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and dozens of other pro‑Palestinian campaigners were detained after Israel’s navy intercepted the largest Gaza‑bound flotilla to date. The flotilla, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla, comprised over 40 civilian vessels and roughly 500 participants from multiple countries, aiming to deliver symbolic humanitarian aid and challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

According to Israeli authorities, the interception took place in international waters some 70–80 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast, an area Israel claims is within its “active combat zone.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry released footage showing Thunberg under naval escort, asserting she is “safe and healthy” and that the intercepted ships are being diverted to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Israeli officials say that organizers had been repeatedly warned to change course.

From the activists’ perspective, the interception is a blatant violation of international law. Organizers say their vessels carried only minimal aid and no arms, and that the mission was peaceful in intent. They accuse Israeli forces of disabling their communications systems, jamming cameras, and using water cannons, with one vessel allegedly rammed at sea. In their statements, they decry the detentions as “abductions” and assert that Israel is unlawfully using a starvation blockade to pressure Gaza’s civilian population.

So far, Israeli forces reportedly intercepted 13 vessels, redirecting them to Ashdod. Most of those aboard have been detained and face deportation. The Israeli government says that those detained will either be deported or, if they refuse, brought before local courts within 96 hours.

But one vessel remains unaccounted for. Organizers say the last ship was last tracked just miles from Gaza before contact was lost, raising fears of a covert boarding or forced disappearance. Israel warns that any further attempt to breach the naval blockade will be prevented.

The interception has triggered protests and diplomatic outcry worldwide. Countries including Turkey, Spain, and Italy have condemned Israel’s actions, accusing it of unlawfully impeding the delivery of aid and breaching maritime norms. Civil society groups warn that the incident may further deteriorate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where access to food, medicine, and essentials has been severely constrained by long‑standing blockade policies intertwined with ongoing conflict.

At the heart of the controversy is a fundamental legal and political clash: is Israel justified in enforcing a maritime blockade for security reasons, or does the interception of humanitarian missions in international waters breach rights to aid and free passage? As the world watches, the fate of the detained activists and the missing vessel hangs in the balance—while the suffering in Gaza continues.