An attempt by a pro-Palestinian flotilla, which included well-known Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip has ended in failure after being intercepted by the Israeli military. Activists from 44 countries who participated in the mission have been arrested, and their deportation process was initiated on the day of their detention.
The ‘Sumud’ flotilla, an Arabic word for ‘Steadfastness’, was composed of dozens of yachts organized in Spain by pro-Palestinian activists. The organizational committee featured several prominent figures, including Brazilian Marxist and eco-activist Tiago Ávila, South African public figure Nkosi Mandela (grandson of Nelson Mandela), and Greta Thunberg. The flotilla was en route to Gaza with a declared cargo of humanitarian aid, proceeding despite warnings from Israeli authorities, who vowed to prevent any breach of the blockade and accused the organizers of having ties to Hamas.
The Israeli operation commenced on the evening of October 1, with special forces successfully boarding the majority of the vessels. Those on board were taken ashore and transferred to the Ktziot prison. The fate of the ships is varied; some are expected to be towed to the coast, while others may be sunk. The interception has drawn condemnation from several governments, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro reportedly threatening to expel all Israeli diplomats in protest.
This was not the first attempt to challenge the Gaza blockade by sea. Israel has maintained the blockade since 2007, when the Hamas militant group assumed control of the territory and began launching rocket and mortar attacks. This was reportedly Thunberg’s second attempt to reach the enclave, following a failed 2025 mission on a vessel named ‘Madeline’ which was intercepted 185 km from the coast. The current effort was described as the largest of its kind and the first since 2009 to approach Gaza by more than 130 km, although reports suggest the amount of humanitarian cargo was limited.
In the wake of Israel’s firm action, there is concern about a potential rise in antisemitic incidents across Europe and the United States. The interception was followed by a deadly attack outside a synagogue in a suburb of Manchester, UK, on the morning of October 2. According to preliminary reports, a man first attempted to drive his car into a crowd of worshippers and then attacked them with a knife, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. The assailant was shot and killed by police during the arrest. The attack took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, when the location was chosen for its potential to cause mass casualties.