The Israeli military has intercepted the last vessel of a major international aid flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza, concluding a two-day operation that saw hundreds of activists detained and sparked global protests.
The final boat, the Polish-flagged Marinette, was seized by Israeli naval forces on the morning of Friday, 3 October 2025, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. Live footage from the vessel showed Israeli armed soldiers boarding the craft and ordering activists to raise their hands.
Its interception marked the end of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s mission, which organisers said involved 42 vessels and around 500 participants from more than 40 nations, including high-profile figures such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela.
A Coordinated Naval Interception
The Israeli navy began intercepting the flotilla on the evening of 2 October, with most vessels boarded about 70 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast in international waters.
Israel’s foreign ministry stated the flotilla was warned it was “approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade” and was offered a means to transfer its aid through established channels.
The ministry confirmed that all 461 detained activists were “safe and in good health” and that deportation procedures had begun, with four Italian parliamentarians among the first to be repatriated.
Flotilla organisers and participants condemned the interceptions as illegal. In a pre-recorded video released after her detention, Greta Thunberg stated, “If you are watching this video, I have been abducted and taken against my will by Israeli forces”.
The legal centre representing the activists, Adalah, alleged that immigration proceedings were conducted without legal counsel present.
International Condemnation and Protests
The Israeli operation drew swift international criticism and triggered demonstrations worldwide. In a significant diplomatic move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s remaining diplomats and terminated a bilateral free trade agreement, denouncing the interception as an “international crime”.
Spain’s labour minister, Yolanda Díaz, described the incident as “a crime against international law,” while Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Israel of “brutality”.
In Italy, the nation’s largest unions called a general strike in solidarity, disrupting transport and leading to widespread protests.
Conversely, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the flotilla, stating, “I continue to believe that all this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people”.
In Israel, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited detained activists at Ashdod port, calling them “terrorists” and mocking their aid initiative.
Dispute Over Aid and Future Missions
Israel claimed that a search of the flotilla’s vessels found no humanitarian aid, with a police spokesman calling the mission a provocation for “headlines and social media followings”.
The flotilla organisers maintain they were carrying symbolic amounts of baby formula, food, and medicine to highlight the dire situation in Gaza, where international agencies have confirmed famine conditions.
Despite this setback, activist groups have already announced a new flotilla of 11 vessels is en route to Gaza, indicating continued attempts to challenge the blockade.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has reiterated calls for Israel to “urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material through all means possible”.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters, Associated Press, Al Jazeera