Israeli Forces Intercept Humanitarian Aid Flotilla Bound for Gaza

Sat Oct 11 2025 03:56:00 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An aid flotilla carrying food and medical supplies intended for Gaza has been intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters amid ongoing tensions in the region.

A newly organized flotilla comprising nine vessels and 150 passengers, including international activists, was halted by Israeli forces as it headed towards Gaza with essential supplies. Israel characterized the action as a successful enforcement of its naval blockade. The incident follows a similar interception of another large aid convoy last week, which resulted in the detention of many activists. This situation occurs against the backdrop of a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by ongoing military actions.

A new flotilla heading for the Gaza Strip with food and medical supplies on board has been intercepted by Israeli forces.

The fleet, made up of nine vessels and 150 people, was stopped in international waters, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza which are jointly running the operation.

Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing, Israel's foreign ministry said.

Last week, Israel's military stopped a 42-boat aid convoy with 479 pro-Palestinian activists on board. Most of them, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, were detained and later deported, but 138 remain in detention.

Organisers of the new attempt initially said three of its boats had been intercepted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 120 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

Within hours, a live tracker showed that all nine boats had been stopped.

The Israeli government confirmed, The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly.

The 150 passengers hail from various countries, including Turkey, whose foreign ministry called the intervention a grave violation of international law and an act of piracy.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people taken hostage.

Reportedly, more than 67,160 people have died in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.

Israel has maintained a naval blockade off the coast of Gaza since 2007, when Hamas took control of the Strip.

According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 460 Palestinians have died from malnutrition effects since the war began, with Gaza City being heavily affected.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which has UN backing, verified a famine in Gaza City and warned that it could spread in the coming weeks.

Israel disputes IPC's findings, insisting that it complies with international law and facilitates aid entry into Gaza.