According to the Foreign Ministry, Israel acted after the flotilla\u00a0\u201cactively attempted to block an Israeli merchant vessel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why Israel acted early, peacefully, in accordance with international law, and with the aim of ensuring the safety and security of all those on board \u2013 and it will continue to do so,\u201d said the ministry.<\/p>\n
Israel says some 175 activists were detained, while a spokesperson for the flotilla later put the figure at 211.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n Writing on X, Sa\u2019ar said \u201call participants in the provocative flotilla who were taken off the vessels were taken off unharmed\u201d following their bid \u201cto breach the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn coordination with the Greek government, the individuals transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be disembarked on a Greek beach in the coming hours,\u201d he said, thanking the Greek government \u201cfor its willingness to receive the flotilla participants.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe call on anyone who is not interested in provocations but rather in humanitarian aid to Gaza to do so through the BOP, which also issued a statement on the matter today,\u201d Sa\u2019ar said, referring to the US-led Board of Peace that is tasked<\/a> with overseeing the post-war management of Gaza.<\/p>\n \t The activists aboard the flotilla departed from Spain earlier this month, after organizing a similar operation last year with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and hundreds more participants that was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday hailed the Israeli Navy for \u201ccompletely successfully\u201d carrying out the interception.<\/p>\n \u201cNot one ship or Hamas supporter arrived in our territory, not even in our maritime territory,\u201d said Netanyahu.\u00a0\u201cThey have been turned back and will return to their countries of origin. They will continue to watch Gaza on YouTube.\u201d<\/p>\n In its own statement, the Board of Peace dismissed the Sumud flotilla as \u201clove-boat activism\u201d \u2014 an apparent riff on Israel\u2019s claim that the supplies carried by the flotilla comprised mainly condoms and drugs.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the ceasefire last October, the Board of Peace has SIGNIFICANTLY scaled up support for the people of Gaza,\u201d said the board, which US President Donald Trump inaugurated<\/a> in January as part of the Gaza peace plan that he announced in September.<\/p>\n The board claimed its work in Gaza has tripled the number of people receiving food aid while \u201cHamas\u2019 theft of aid has dwindled from 90% to less than 1%.\u201d The board added that it was now working \u201cto accelerate aid and rebirth\u201d in Gaza by disarming Hamas and ushering in a new government.<\/p>\n The Sumud flotilla, by contrast, was \u201cperformative love-boat activism of people who know nothing of and care even less for the condition of Gazans,\u201d said the board, which includes no Palestinian members. \u201cIt is distasteful to trade on the misery of people to build your social media profiles.\u201d<\/p>\n The board suggested that \u201cthose actually wanting to help Gaza\u201d should pressure Hamas to \u201cfulfill their obligations\u201d and contribute aid \u201cthrough established humanitarian channels coordinated by the Board of Peace, the United Nations, and the World Bank, so that your contributions reach those who deserve and need our aid.\u201d<\/p>\n Same script, different year. The israeli navy thinks a radio warning can drown out the cries for justice. You call it a “maritime security blockade” \u2014 the rest of the world calls it a crime scene. We aren’t “invited” to Ashdod; we aren’t your guests. We are the witnesses you\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/dElolWN59Y<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) April 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Spain\u2019s Foreign Ministry said it \u201cenergetically condemns\u201d Israel\u2019s seizure of the flotilla and has summoned\u00a0Israel\u2019s charge d\u2019affaires in Spain to protest the incident.\n<\/p>\n Spanish diplomatic staff in Israel are in contact with the organizers of the flotilla and Spain\u2019s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has spoken with his counterparts who also have nationals on board, the statement said.<\/p>\n Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni\u2019s office also condemned Israel\u2019s seizure of the flotilla, and demanded the immediate release of all Italians who have been \u201cunlawfully detained.\u201d<\/p>\n Italian news agency Ansa said 24 Italians were detained aboard the flotilla, and footage from Rome showed Italians protesting against Israel over the flotilla\u2019s interception.<\/p>\n Separately, Germany and Italy\u2019s foreign ministries issued a joint statement saying they were following developments with \u201cdeep concern.\u201d<\/p>\n The joint statement, which did not mention Israel by name, called for \u201cfull respect of international law\u201d and avoidance of \u201cirresponsible actions,\u201d adding that the two countries were committed to guaranteeing the safety of their citizens.<\/p>\n Paris announced 15 French nationals. According to flotilla organizers, those\u00a0included Paris Communist local councillor Raphaelle Primet.<\/p>\n \t Israel has intercepted several activist flotillas that sought to break Gaza\u2019s naval blockade and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis rocking the Strip since the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since the Hamas terror group seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007 in a violent coup.<\/p>\n Israel has said it was necessary to impose a blockade on Gaza to prevent Hamas from smuggling in weapons.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tForeign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar speaks at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, March 23, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg\/Flash90)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26102542056567-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tA boat from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla is seen during a symbolic send-off at a port in Barcelona, Spain, April 12, 2026. (AP Photo\/Joan Mateu Parra)<\/p>\n
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