Israeli navy ships stopped a massive flotilla of boats headed toward Gaza late Friday night, and among those on board was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. She and dozens of others were detained in the operation, which played out over several tense hours at sea.
The flotilla, called Global Sumud, had set sail from Spain a month ago with the goal of reaching Gaza on a humanitarian mission. It included more than 40 vessels and around 500 activists from different countries. Supporters described the mission as peaceful, aimed at delivering aid and drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
But as the boats got closer to the Palestinian enclave, Israeli warships moved in. According to organizers, the military jammed communications and boarded several of the vessels. The operation stretched through the night, coinciding with Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. By midnight, Israeli troops had boarded at least six boats. Greta Thunberg was on one of the first ships stopped.
Videos shared by the flotilla group showed activists, including Thunberg, as the military approached. Organizers say the interception was illegal, insisting the flotilla had every right to continue its journey. They also confirmed that French politician Emma Fauré, a member of the European Parliament, was among those detained.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry, however, released a different message. It said that several boats had already been safely redirected to an Israeli port and that the passengers-including Greta-were “safe and sound.” Officials added that the detained activists would be deported after questioning.
The interception happened roughly 112 kilometers (about 70 miles) off the Israeli coast and more than 140 kilometers (90 miles) from Gaza itself. Israel has declared the waters around Gaza off-limits for security reasons, extending its naval control zone far into the Mediterranean.
Organizers of the flotilla stressed that many of those on board were humanitarian workers and activists, though Israeli officials accuse some passengers of having ties to Hamas. That accusation has fueled even more tension around the mission and Israel’s hard-line response.
For Greta Thunberg, this was the second time she has tried-and failed-to reach Gaza as part of a humanitarian convoy. Despite the setback, her presence has drawn significant global attention to the flotilla and the blockade of Gaza, once again putting her at the center of an international flashpoint.
As of now, parts of the flotilla are still continuing their journey toward Gaza, though it remains unclear how many ships will actually make it through. For the detained activists, the next step appears to be deportation, but the confrontation has already sent a powerful message about the risks-and determination-behind efforts to break Israel’s blockade.
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