Lost Contact with 11 Ships Heading to Gaza

Israeli naval forces intercepted vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters on Wednesday, according to organizers of the humanitarian mission. The flotilla, comprised of approximately 50 boats that departed from Marseille, Barcelona, and Syracuse, Sicily in recent weeks, aimed to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

“Communication with 11 vessels have been lost,” the Global Sumud Flotilla announced late Wednesday, adding that Israeli media reports claim seven boats have already been intercepted. The organization is calling on governments to intervene and protect the vessels.

Israeli Army Radio reported that naval forces began taking control of the flotilla’s vessels, which were located far from Israel’s coast. According to the report, at least seven vessels near Crete have been seized by Israeli forces.

The Global Sumud Flotilla stated that Israeli military boats surrounded the convoy near the Greek island of Crete, and communications were jammed. The organization alleges that Israeli naval forces are alongside the boats and pointing weapons at those on board, asserting that “the Israeli navy cannot silence voices demanding justice.”

The flotilla’s mission is to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the ongoing blockade. Israel has maintained a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, severely restricting the movement of people and goods.

An Israeli military response to Anadolu Agency stated that the navy is “determined to maintain the blockade on Gaza and is prepared for various scenarios,” but did not confirm or deny whether an interception had taken place. Al Jazeera reported that Israel used drones, communications jamming technology, and armed raiding parties to halt the fleet “in the middle of the Mediterranean.”

Al Jazeera also cited an Israeli source claiming seven of the flotilla’s 58 vessels had been captured near Crete. The vessels were described as being “hundreds of nautical miles from the Gaza coast,” in waters off the island of Crete.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, also referred to as the Global Freedom Flotilla, is an international, civil society-led maritime coalition. It was formed in July 2025 by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Movement to Gaza, the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara, according to information from Wikipedia.

Previous attempts to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza have occurred, including the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which resulted in a deadly raid by Israeli forces. The Global Sumud Flotilla represents a renewed effort to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza and challenge the restrictions imposed by Israel.