According to media reports, the Israeli navy has launched an operation against the international aid fleet for Gaza.
04/30/2026, 03:2604/30/2026, 03:26
The “Global Sumud Flotilla” announced in a post on Platform X that Israeli military speedboats had approached the fleet. “They pointed lasers and semi-automatic assault rifles at the participants and ordered them to go to the bow of the boats and get on their hands and knees,” it said. “The boats’ communication is disrupted and an emergency call (SOS) has been made.”
The Gaza fleet set sail in Sicily.Image: keystone
Dozens of ships with activists from numerous countries on board set sail from Sicily towards the Gaza Strip on Sunday. The organization spoke of the largest flotilla that had ever attempted to reach the Gaza Strip.
The aim is a humanitarian corridor
The pro-Palestinian activists wanted to try again to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since 2007 and is also supported by Egypt, and to bring aid supplies to the conflict region. The declared aim of the “Global Sumud Flotilla” is also to advance the establishment of a permanent humanitarian corridor.
In the past, Israel has always prevented activists’ attempts to break the naval blockade off the sealed-off coastal strip. In a previous attempt, the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” which consisted primarily of private sailing and motor boats, was stormed by Israeli special forces last fall and prevented from reaching the area.
Deployment west of Crete
The Israeli army did not initially comment on the reports. The Israeli news portal “ynet” reported, citing an Israeli representative, that because of the size of the fleet, it had been decided to bring it under control in international waters well off the Israeli coast – west of the Greek island of Crete. (sda/dpa)