Israel intercepts 39 Gaza Aid Flatilla ships, relaxes Greta Thunberg

The Israeli naval forces intercepted 39 ships of a Gaza binding aid flotilla on Thursday, holding dozens of activists – including international climate activist Greta Thunberg and several European legislators, reported the Associated Press.

According to the PA, the Flotilla Global Sumud, which leaves through the Mediterranean with more than 40 boats carrying around 500 activists, was the largest in an attempt to break the Israeli blocking of the enclave, according to the AP.

The flotilla has since been reduced to a single ship still directed to Gaza. The organizers of the Global Sumud Flatilla said on X that the boat had been followed for the last time a few kilometers from the Gaza coast before contact loss. Activists told the AP that they thought that the size of the flotilla would make it more difficult for Israeli forces to intercept each ship.

Surveillance photos and images have captured the moment when Israeli soldiers in helmets and night vision glasses are mounted on the flotilla. A photo of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has shown that Thunberg, the most important of the fleeting passengers, accompanied by soldiers following the interception. Israeli officials said detained persons included Thunberg, the former mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau and the European Parliament Rima Hassan, according to AP.

Israel claims that the Greta Thunberg flotilla seeks to break the Gaza blockade has links from Hamas, cites documents

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is near an Israeli soldier after Israeli naval forces intercepted a flotilla to Gaza. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel)

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X that activists were “safe and healthy” and would be transferred to Israel to be expelled to Europe.

“The provocation of the Sumud of Hamas is over,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel said on Thursday in a post on X. “None of the Hamas Sumud provocation yachts managed to attempt to enter an active combat zone or violate the legal naval blockade. All passengers are safe and healthy.

“A last ship in this provocation remains remotely,” added the post. “If he approaches, his attempt to enter an active combat zone and to vioder the blockade will also be prevented.”

Italy Meloni says that Gaza Flatilla risks climbing, could “explode” a potential ceasefire problem

Israeli forces stormed a world ship from the Sumud flotilla on October 2, 2025, while the boat was trying to sail to Gaza. (Global Sumud Flotilla via AP)

The news of the interception also aroused condemnation and sparked demonstrations in cities such as Rome, Naples, Istanbul, Athens and Buenos Aires, said the AP. The largest Italian union announced a general strike for a day for Friday to protest, while more rallies were expected around the world on Thursday, added the point of sale.

Anti-Israeli activists aboard the World Flotilla Sumud, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, before ships were intercepted by Israeli forces. (Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Click here to obtain the Fox News app

The flotilla is part of a series of international efforts to challenge the blockade of Israel, which has been in place since 2007 after Hamas has taken control of Gaza. The previous attempts of the Flotillas activists to break the blocking have largely failed and sometimes triggered fatal clashes, including during the Gaza Freedom 2010 flotilla.

The Israeli Defense Forces (FDI) and the Global Sumud Flatilla did not immediately respond to a request for comments from Fox News Digital.