Israeli forces arrested on Wednesday night participants aboard the ships Alma and Sirius, both part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, and ordered the convoy to divert to the port of Ashdod, Israeli media reported.
According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, naval units boarded the vessels and began taking control of the flotilla. This followed the surrounding of the fleet by Israeli warships, which also cut off communications between its ships.
Earlier, correspondents reported that the flotilla had been placed on high alert in anticipation of interception, as about 20 Israeli warships were seen approaching. Despite repeated warnings and calls from European governments to halt the mission, organizers had vowed to continue toward Gaza.
At 12:30 GMT, the fleet announced that it was sailing in the Mediterranean, north of the Egyptian coast, 118 nautical miles (about 220 kilometers) from Palestine. It said Israeli naval forces had carried out intimidation maneuvers earlier that morning.
The statement explained that Alma, one of the lead ships, was “hostilely surrounded by an Israeli warship for several minutes,” during which communications were disrupted. The captain was forced to make a sudden maneuver to avoid a collision. The Sirius was also targeted in a similar incident.
Israeli forces have intercepted Alma, the lead boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla, in international waters – a direct breach of international law. The boat was carrying humanitarian aid and peaceful activists on their way to Gaza.
Contact has been lost. pic.twitter.com/AArvOFoY7p— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) October 1, 2025
Marie Mesmur, a French MP with La France Insoumise traveling on the Sirius, said she witnessed at least two unidentified vessels approach, one extremely close. She described how “a military intervention vessel directed a bright light at us” while radar and internet systems were simultaneously cut.
In a separate post on X at around 5:00 GMT, the flotilla said it would exercise caution upon entering waters where previous aid ships had been intercepted, referring to the Madeleine and Hanthala vessels earlier this year. Still, organizers stressed they would continue their mission despite “Israeli threats and intimidation.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which departed Spain at the end of August, consists of around 45 ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from more than 40 countries. On board are notable figures including Nelson Mandela’s grandson, former South African MP Mandla Mandela; Swedish activist Greta Thunberg; French MEP Rima Hassan; and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
Carrying food, baby formula, and medical supplies, the flotilla describes its mission as peaceful and non-violent, aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade on Gaza and delivering urgent aid to a population enduring famine and genocide.
Meanwhile, Italy and Spain dispatched military vessels to monitor the flotilla following drone and incendiary bomb attacks on its ships between September 23–24. The flotilla had also been targeted earlier, on September 9, while docked in Tunisia.
The Israeli occupation has labeled the Global Sumud Flotilla a ‘Hamas-Sumud flotilla,’ claiming it exists solely to provoke.
Israeli authorities warned the fleet that it is entering an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade, while reiterating that humanitarian… pic.twitter.com/1wk4ptILx0
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 1, 2025
The Spanish government urged the convoy not to enter the restricted zone declared by Israel, 150 nautical miles from Gaza, though Defense Minister Margarita Robles later clarified that Spain’s Furor warship would intervene only “in extreme necessity.” Similarly, Italy’s escort vessel stopped at the 150-mile mark, radioing participants to “abandon” their mission. Organizers condemned these moves as attempts to undermine a peaceful humanitarian effort and as implicit support for Israel.
On Wednesday, South Africa urged “calm and protection,” stressing that any seizure of the vessels would constitute a “grave violation of international law.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the flotilla posed “no threat to Israel” and expressed hope that the Netanyahu government would refrain from confrontation.
In a joint statement, Italy and Greece also called on Israel to safeguard the participants while encouraging the flotilla to accept the Latin Patriarchate’s offer to deliver the aid.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, however, urged the convoy to stop, saying an agreement based on the US president’s peace plan for Gaza was possible. “Faced with a historic opportunity, I do not understand the insistence on an initiative that carries such danger and irresponsibility,” she stated.
Protests Spread Across Europe, Italian Unions Call Strike
Protests erupted across Europe late on Wednesday after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a convoy of more than 40 civilian boats carrying 532 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists from over 45 countries in an attempt to break the blockade of Gaza.
Demonstrations broke out in Berlin, Barcelona, Brussels, and Istanbul, while in Italy, protesters stormed the main railway station in Naples, halting train traffic. In Rome, police cordoned off Termini station after crowds gathered at its entrances, and in Genoa, activists announced plans to block the port.
The news also triggered a wave of industrial action. The Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), which had pledged to strike if the flotilla was attacked, accused Israel of violating international law and declared a nationwide general strike for Friday. “Attacked the Global Sumud Fleet. Israel attacks international law. Now is the time to block everything,” the union said on X.
Italy’s largest trade union, CGIL, soon joined in, calling the assault on ships carrying Italian citizens “an extremely serious matter.”
Spontaneous protests are now underway in Rome, Italy, following news that Israeli forces have intercepted the #GlobalSumudFlotilla on its way to break the siege on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/aBTEDrkqzd
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 1, 2025
The general strike marks the second in Italy in support of Gaza within weeks, after USB called a previous solidarity strike on September 22, which turned violent in Milan.
Italian dockworkers have also been taking action in recent weeks, blocking ships they identified as linked to Israel.
The flotilla, loaded mainly with food and medicine, had set sail at the end of August and was due to reach Gaza on Thursday morning under normal conditions.
Its interception comes despite repeated warnings from Israel for the convoy to turn back, and reassurances from Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that Israeli officials would not use violence against participants.
The standoff at sea comes against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing war and blockade on Gaza.
Since October 2023, the Israeli army has killed more than 66,100 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The blockade, in place for nearly 18 years, was further tightened on March 2 when Israel closed all border crossings, preventing food, medicine, and aid from entering and pushing Gaza’s 2.4 million people into famine and disease.
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