Gaza-Bound Aid Flotilla Faces Israeli Harassment at Sea

A drone picture shows a flotilla of humanitarian boats led by French activist Melissa, dubbed the “Thousand Madleens,” departing from the Sicilian port of San Giovanni li Cuti in Catania, Italy on 27 September 2025.

An international flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza reported that Israeli vessels engaged in "dangerous and intimidatory manoeuvres" as it approached the blockaded territory on Wednesday.

Organisers said two Israeli warships rapidly encircled two of the flotilla’s boats, Alma and Sirius, causing navigation and communication systems to fail. Thiago Ávila, a flotilla organiser, described the incident as a "cyber attack," though some communications have since been restored. Israeli authorities did not immediately comment.

The Global Sumud Flotilla includes over 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 people, including parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists such as Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

The flotilla is the latest sea attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, delivering food and medicine to the enclave. It is currently within 120 nautical miles of the coast and expects to arrive on Thursday morning if not intercepted.

"These hostile actions placed unarmed civilians from over 40 countries in grave danger," the flotilla said, adding that it will continue its journey. Videos posted by the mission showed what appeared to be military vessels near the civilian boats.

The flotilla has also faced drone attacks in recent days, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on its vessels, causing minor damage but no injuries. Israel has stated it will prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, citing security concerns, while Italy, Spain, and Turkey have provided naval and aerial monitoring but no military engagement.

Francesca Albanese, the UN’s top expert on Palestinian rights, warned that any interception of the flotilla would violate international law and the law of the sea, as Israel lacks legal jurisdiction over Gaza’s waters.

Israel has maintained a naval blockade of Gaza since Hamas seized control in 2007, and there have been multiple previous attempts to deliver aid by sea, including a deadly 2010 flotilla raid that killed nine activists. In June this year, Israeli forces detained Thunberg and 11 others during a separate aid mission.

Italy and Greece have called on Israel to avoid harming activists and urged the flotilla to hand aid over to the Catholic Church for delivery, a request previously rejected by the mission.