Tel Aviv, Oct 2(HS) : Israeli naval forces intercepted a flotilla carrying aid and international activists bound for Gaza on Wednesday, halting its bid to break Israel’s long-standing blockade of the conflict-ravaged Palestinian territory.The Global Sumud Flotilla, including around 45 vessels with activists such as Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and South African politician Mandla Mandela, was stopped in international waters, according to organizers.

Israel confirmed the move, saying the vessels were redirected to port and that passengers, including Thunberg, were “safe and healthy.”The flotilla, which departed Spain last month and briefly stopped in Tunisia, aimed to deliver aid to Gaza, where the UN has warned famine conditions are present.

Organizers accused Israel of carrying out the interception illegally and said live communications with several ships were lost after they were boarded.Israel defended the action, stressing it had repeatedly warned the flotilla not to cross into its exclusion zone off Gaza. Both Spain and Italy, which had sent warships as escorts, urged the activists not to enter the restricted waters.

The Italian and Spanish governments later pulled back their protection vessels, stopping short of confrontation with Israel.International reactions were swift. Turkey denounced the interception as “an act of terrorism” and a “serious violation of international law.”

South Africa called for “restraint,” while Spain and Greece urged Israel to ensure participants’ safety.Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni added that the activists’ mission risked undermining US President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan under discussion with regional powers.

Despite repeated attempts in recent years, pro-Palestinian flotillas have failed to reach Gaza, with Israel intercepting similar attempts in both June and July.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar