Israel’s interception of the Freedom Flotilla has intensified debate over the limits of state power at sea, raising questions about jurisdiction in international waters and the legality of the Gaza blockade. Between 29th and 30th April 2026, Israeli naval forces intercepted 22 boats belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters to the west of Crete. The boats were carrying activists and humanitarian supplies in an attempt to challenge the blockade of Gaza and deliver aid. On 1 May, 173 of the 175 participants were transferred to Crete while two of them, Thiago Ávila from Brazil and Saif Abukeshek, a Palestinian with Spanish and Swedish citizenship, were deported and detained in Israel on charges of “membership of a terrorist […]
This article was sourced from Middle East Monitor.
Read Full Article on Middle East Monitor →![A screen grab captured from CCTV video show crew of the Spring 2026 mission of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, Palestine, as the flotilla is blockaded by Israeli warships and drones at Mediterranean Sea on April 30, 2026. [Global Sumud Flotilla - Anadolu Agency]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260430_3_74117366_124692863_poster-1-1.jpg)
