Hebrew media reported on Wednesday evening that the Israeli Navy has begun seizing ships from the “break the siege” flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip, before they could approach the coast.
In contrast, the Global Sumud Flotilla said its ships were experiencing signal interference near Greek waters, with unidentified warships approaching them.
Israel’s Channel 14 reported that naval forces had started taking control of the maritime fleet heading to Gaza, far from the coast.
The boats, part of the “Spring 2026 mission” organised by the Global Sumud Flotilla, set sail on Sunday from the Italian island of Sicily in an effort to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to its residents.
The flotilla had originally departed from Barcelona on 12 April and arrived in Sicily on 23 April, where additional boats and activists from Italy joined via the cities of Syracuse and Augusta.
The number of participating vessels rose to 65 at Augusta Yacht Harbour before final departure procedures were completed, after which the boats gradually sailed into the Mediterranean Sea according to a coordinated plan.
While at sea, a vessel belonging to Greenpeace joined the flotilla in a move described as reinforcing the civilian initiative.
READ: The Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza — A cry at sea to the world’s dormant conscience
