Overview
- Following a Thursday agreement between Israel and Greece, the detainees from the intercepted flotilla were put ashore on Crete on Friday under Greek coastguard escort, with officials reporting roughly 175 people landed and 31 taken to a nearby hospital.
- Israeli authorities said all detainees were transferred to Greece except two men — Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila — who will be taken to Israel for questioning on suspected terrorism links or illegal activity.
- Israel reported intercepting about 175 people from more than 20 boats, while flotilla organizers claimed 211 detentions from at least 22 boats and said boarding took place in international waters with lasers and assault rifles trained on participants.
- European governments sought consular access and protested the operation, with Italy demanding immediate release of its nationals, Spain’s prime minister accusing Israel of breaching international law, and France confirming its citizens were among those held.
- The Global Sumud flotilla, launched in April from Marseille, Barcelona and Syracuse to challenge Israel’s Gaza blockade and deliver aid, follows similar attempts stopped in 2025 that drew rights-group criticism and left the legality of such high-seas interceptions contested.