What is the Global Sumud Flotilla and where is it now?published at 11:27 BST
11:27 BST
Thomas Copeland
BBC Verify Live journalist
We’re tracking the Global Sumud Flotilla as it approaches Gaza. It consists of more than 40 civilian boats and is carrying some 500 people. Among them are European parliamentarians, lawyers and Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The activists say they want to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver aid to the territory. Israel has accused the flotilla of being a “Hamas operation” and said it should dock at one of its ports so the aid can be taken to Gaza.
As of 10:00 BST (12:00 in Israel and Gaza), the flotilla is 117 nautical miles (135 miles; 218km) from Gaza.
“We have now entered the high-risk zone, the area where previous flotillas have been attacked and/or intercepted,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a post on Telegram.
Overnight, a spokesperson for the flotilla said several of its boats were surrounded by Israeli naval forces.
We have not been able to authenticate the footage provided and the Israeli military has not responded to requests for comment from BBC Verify.
We have previously analysed footage of what the activists said were drone attacks against the flotilla off the coast of Tunisia.
Previous flotillas attempting to reach Gaza, however, have been intercepted by Israeli authorities more than 100 nautical miles off its coast.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has told the flotilla to stop, saying the latest attempt by activists to deliver aid risks derailing a US plan to end the war.
