Overview
- Israeli forces boarded more than 20 boats west of Crete in international waters late Wednesday into Thursday, detaining about 175 activists who were later put ashore on Crete for return to their home countries.
- Greece agreed to receive the detainees and some vessels reached Cretan ports, while Israel said two people will be taken to Israel for questioning over suspected terrorism links or other illegal activity.
- Flotilla organizers allege sailors were forced to kneel at gunpoint, communications were jammed, and engines and navigation gear on some boats were disabled with about 22 trackers going dark, a claim Israel rejects as it says the operation was lawful, peaceful and caused no injuries.
- Germany and Italy issued a joint warning that stopping the convoy in international waters may breach international law, and Turkey and Spain protested the action as tensions shifted to a diplomatic track.
- The confrontation renews disputes over Israel’s Gaza naval blockade, in place since 2007, and follows earlier interdictions including the deadly 2010 Mavi Marmara raid and a failed Sumud attempt in autumn 2025.