Nearly 200 pro-Palestinian activists aboard boats allegedly carrying aid bound for Gaza were taken to the Greek island of Crete on May 1 after Israeli forces seized their vessels in international waters, the “Global Sumud” flotilla organizers said.
The ships originally set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12. This international collection of activists were part of a second flotilla launched in recent months in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance.
Israeli forces halted a previous flotilla assembled by the same organization last October as vessels attempted to reach Gaza, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 other participants.
Main flotilla intercepted before reaching the area
The “Global Sumud” Gaza flotilla was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in the final hours of April 2026 in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula.
Roughly 20–22 boats were seized and approximately 170–175 activists detained, coming from dozens of countries. Other vessels in the wider convoy (the entire flotilla was larger, 40 – 50 vessels were planned) either avoided interception/are still at sea and possibly regrouping. (Click for ship tracker).
Almost all of the detainees were quickly repatriated.
In a post on their Telegram channel, organizers of the flotilla alleged that activists were denied adequate food and water and “forced to sleep on floors that were deliberately and repeatedly flooded” aboard an Israeli naval vessel.
In a social media post on May 1, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said, “The Greek government agreed that the flotilla activists would be disembarked on its shores, and we thank it for that.” It added that two activists would be transferred to Israel: “Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization and Thiago Ávila suspected of illegal activity, will be brought to Israel for questioning.”
“Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” the Ministry concluded. A hearing for the two was held in Israel on May 3.
Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, accused Israel of illegally arresting Abu Keshek (a Spanish national of Palestinian origin) and demanded his immediate release. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on April 30 called for the immediate release of Italian nationals onboard the flotilla. Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry condemned the interception in international waters as “an act of piracy.”
Keshek and Avila were deported from Israel after being held for a week.
The “Global Sumud” flotilla from Barcelona is distinct from another flotilla that departed from Turkiye later in May and was also intercepted by the Israeli military, again generating massive media coverage, probably their primary goal. All flotilla participants were deported to Turkiye by Israel but many claimed to have been filmed and mistreated while in Israeli custody.
Meanwhile the U.S. Department of State declared that the organizers of the flotilla were understood to be part of a specially designated global terrorist group already under U.S. sanctions (see below) as well as being supporters of a “baseless, counterproductive effort to undermine U.S. President Donald Trump’s Peace Plan.”
The text of the following press statement was released by the U.S. Department of State, signed by Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, Department Spokesperson
Begin Text (Press Statement):
United States Condemns the Pro-Hamas Global Sumud Flotilla
The United States condemns the Global Sumud Flotilla, a pro-Hamas initiative and a baseless, counterproductive effort to undermine President Trump’s Peace Plan. This Pro-Hamas Flotilla is organized by an OFAC-sanctioned entity, the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, which was designated as a specially designated global terrorist in January for operating at Hamas’ behest. The founder of the Global Sumud Flotilla has publicly expressed support for the Iranian regime and its terror proxies including Hamas and Hezbollah.
Consistent with international law, ports constitute internal waters over which coastal states exercise full territorial sovereignty. The United States expects all our allies, particularly those who have committed to supporting President Trump’s successful 20-Point Plan, to take decisive action against this meaningless political stunt by denying port access, docking, departure, and refueling to vessels participating in the flotilla.
Our allies should also take additional actions, consistent with applicable law, including denying berthing to vessels reasonably suspected of enabling terrorism or presenting security concerns. Clear public warnings should be issued to their nationals to refrain from participating in this terror-supporting flotilla in any manner or risk facing any applicable legal consequences.
Unlike organized assistance mechanisms coordinated with regional partners, this flotilla circumvents mechanisms designed to ensure humanitarian assistance is received by civilians. The United States will explore using available tools to impose consequences on those who provide support to this pro-Hamas flotilla and supports our allies’ legal actions against it. The flotilla has nothing to do with humanitarian aid or the welfare of Gazans.
April 30, 2026