In a powerful display of solidarity and humanitarian resolve, a group of international aid vessels bound for the Gaza Strip was intercepted by Israeli forces while sailing through international waters, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC). This marks the second interception of such humanitarian missions in just one week.
The FFC, a global network of pro-Palestinian activist groups, organizes non-violent maritime missions with the goal of breaking Israel’s blockade on Gaza. These missions aim to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged enclave.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the interception via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that the flotilla was attempting to breach what it called a “legal naval blockade.” The statement read: “Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing.” The ministry added that all passengers were safe and would be deported shortly.
However, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition strongly condemned the action, calling it an illegal “hijacking” of a humanitarian convoy. “The ships were illegally intercepted… Participants — humanitarians, doctors, and journalists from across the world — have been taken against their will and are being held in unknown conditions,” the FFC said.
The flotilla was carrying over US$110,000 worth of critical medical supplies, including respiratory equipment and nutritional aid for hospitals in Gaza — hospitals that are reportedly on the brink of collapse. The mission included participants from multiple countries, unified in their demand for a humanitarian corridor to be established for Gaza’s civilians.
“The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters,” the coalition emphasized. “Our flotilla poses no harm.”
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with more than 67,000 reported killed since the conflict escalated in October 2023, such missions represent more than just aid — they are symbolic calls for compassion, justice, and international accountability. Israel, on its part, maintains that the blockade is essential for its security, following the October 7 Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages.
