Israel Intercepts Gaza Flotilla, Detains 400 Activists Including Greta Thunberg

 Israel’s navy has intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, detaining more than 400 people on board.

The large-scale operation, carried out by the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit and other forces, began Wednesday evening and stretched overnight into Thursday. Over a dozen naval vessels were deployed to halt 41 ships after the flotilla rejected final calls to change course.

Activists reported heavy electronic jamming, water cannon attacks, and forced boarding. Israel said no major injuries occurred, and all detainees are being transferred to Ashdod Port before deportation to Europe.

Among those detained were climate activist Greta Thunberg, French politician Marie Mesmeur, Franco-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, and several European lawmakers. Footage released by Israel’s Foreign Ministry showed Thunberg being escorted by soldiers and her belongings handed back.

Organizers said the flotilla carried over 500 activists from dozens of countries and a symbolic shipment of medical and humanitarian aid. They accused Israel of “abducting peaceful civilians” and reiterated their mission to challenge what they called an illegal blockade.

Israel defended the action, calling the flotilla a “provocation” and insisting none of the ships reached Gaza’s territorial waters. Officials said the aid could have been delivered legally through established crossings.

The flotilla departed from Spain last month and was the largest Gaza-bound aid mission in recent years, involving nearly 50 ships. Several vessels reportedly turned back before the interception.

Meanwhile, rockets were fired from Gaza toward Ashdod during the naval operation. Israel’s military said its air defenses intercepted most of them, with no casualties reported.

The United Nations and rights groups had warned against an Israeli attack on the flotilla, stressing the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, according to local health authorities.

This marks the third time in recent months that Israel has stopped a Gaza-bound flotilla, further fueling global criticism of its blockade on the enclave, home to 2.4 million people.