Israel raid of Gaza-bound flotilla near Cyprus sparks outrage
The Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla reported Israeli naval forces raiding several of its vessels near Cyprus, in the latest attack on the aid mission in international waters.
In a statement sent to Middle East Eye, the mission said it was "currently surrounded and under active interception by Israeli naval warships in international waters," approximately 250 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip's coast.
It added that the "military encirclement marks the commencement of another illegal, high-seas aggression".
The organisers said in their most recent update on Monday afternoon that 16 ships were raided by "a superior number of armed soldiers" against unarmed civilian crew.
They also hit back at Israeli reports that the flotilla was divided between "European boats" and "Turkish boats", and that the Israeli military planned to segment the vessels by nationality.
"The Global Sumud Flotilla is calling out this depraved, racist playbook and calling on global leaders to condemn this racism urgently and take action," the group said.
"The flotilla has no Turkish-flagged vessels. The Israeli military is fabricating an outright lie to isolate specific vessels and invoke past incidents - specifically the 2010 lethal assault on the Mavi Marmara, with which GSF has no affiliation."
Footage released showed Israeli forces circling and seizing a number of boats, reportedly off the coast of Cyprus.
Footage shows Israeli forces intercepting a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters on Monday, arresting 100 activists on board.
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) May 18, 2026
Israeli media reported that the boats were intercepted off the coast of Cyprus and that they will transfer the activists to the Ashdod port. pic.twitter.com/xbQLyXPzvI
The organisers said that Israel "continues to demonstrate a systematic disregard for international maritime law, freedom of navigation on the high seas, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)".
The Global Sumud Flotilla also posted on X that Israeli soldiers were "boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight".
The seizure of ships comes four days after 54 vessels originally set off from Marmaris, Turkey, in an attempt at breaking Israel's blockade on Gaza.
Israeli media earlier reported that the military was preparing to intercept the flotilla, which was expected to reach Gaza’s waters within two days.
According to Israel Hayom, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations on Sunday ahead of the flotilla’s arrival.
Yedioth Ahronoth quoted an Israeli source as saying forces would “control them” and transfer activists to a “floating prison”.
The attack has sparked international outrage, with the Turkish foreign ministry condemning the Israeli intervention.
"Israel's attacks and intimidation policies will in no way prevent the international community's pursuit of justice and solidarity with the Palestinian people," the ministry said in a statement, demanding that Israel immediatly halt the raid.
In late April, Israeli naval forces raided the Gaza-bound vessels off the Greek coast, hundreds of nautical miles from the besieged enclave.
Nearly 200 activists were detained at the time, with some vessels left “systematically disabled” after being raided, leaving activists stranded at sea.
Shortly before the raid, activists said they were approached by military speedboats identifying themselves as Israeli. Soldiers reportedly pointed lasers and semi-automatic weapons at those on board, ordering them to get on their hands and knees. They added that boat communications were being jammed.
Israel launched a devastating onslaught in Gaza in 2023, blocking food, water, aid and electricity from reaching the enclave, while carrying out sustained air strikes for more than two years.
The bombardment has killed at least 72,769 Palestinians, with thousands more missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
The blockade has led to famine being declared in parts of Gaza, while most hospitals, homes and schools have been destroyed. Israeli air strikes since a ceasefire in October have killed more than 800 Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel has also continued to impose aid restrictions on Gaza in violation of the agreement, leaving the humanitarian crisis unresolved.
This article was sourced from Middle East Eye.
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