The Israeli navy has told a flotilla carrying aid towards Gaza to change course, as activists say the boats have been intercepted.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) wrote on social media that some of its vessels had been boarded by 'military personnel' after being approached by Israeli ships and that it was working to confirm the status of those aboard.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the navy had informed the flotilla it was 'approaching an active combat zone', but has not yet confirmed any boardings of vessels.
Israel has previously declared it would not allow the flotilla to reach Gaza. Past attempts have seen activists detained by Israeli forces.
The foreign ministry also indicated that the flotilla was 'violating a lawful naval blockade' in the waters next to Gaza, although it's unclear if the boats have entered the blockade zone.
Multiple vessels, including the Alma, one of the main ships, as well as the Surius and the Adara, have reportedly been intercepted and boarded. The GSF accused the Israeli military of attempting to disrupt their communication systems to block distress signals.
Despite these challenges, live video feeds continue from the ships, revealing activists aboard. The flotilla is reportedly 70 nautical miles from Gaza's coastline, with hopes to reach it by Thursday morning.
International concern is growing, with French officials stating they have ensured any potential boarding operation would occur under secure conditions. Additionally, Italy's foreign minister received assurances from Israel that no violence would be used against the 500 people aboard, which includes international activists and politicians.
The flotilla’s journey has seen multiple previous interceptions, with Italy and Greece closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the activists.
