IDF warned they would be treated like terrorists.
GAZA (PNN) - October 6, 2025 - Greta Thunberg has been hauled off her “Freedom Flotilla” by Israeli naval forces as it neared the besieged Gaza Strip.
As the Global Sumud Flotilla approached Palestinian territory with humanitarian aid on Wednesday evening, at least 19 vessels were intercepted and boarded by the Israeli navy, according to those on board.
The Sirius, Alma and Adara boats were intercepted some 70 nautical miles (80 miles) from the coast of Gaza, according to organizers who shared live positions of the flotilla.
Thunberg and Amerikan actor Susan Sarandon, along with Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela, are part of the controversial convoy of around 43 boats and 500 activists and aid workers sailing on what they describe as a “peaceful mission” to deliver supplies to Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel was accused of using drones to spray an irritant substance on Thunberg's flotilla before boarding and detaining her and other activists.
At around 9.30 pm last night the flotilla said its vessels were being boarded by the Israeli navy as it approached Palestinian territory, with their cameras taken offline.
The flotilla had earlier vowed to press on with its bid to deliver aid to the devastated coastal territory despite what it called “intimidation” tactics by the Israeli military.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X that the navy had reached out to the flotilla to ask them to change course and to warn them that they are approaching “an active combat zone”.
It offered to transfer the aid to Gaza through other channels.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has said that activists on board the Gaza aid flotilla will be deported once the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur concludes on Thursday.
“We will not allow any PR stunt approaching an active war zone to violate our sovereignty. Those who tried to enter Israeli territory illegally will be deported immediately after Yom Kippur in Israel,” Danon said in a statement.
He added that Israel has “repeatedly offered ways to peacefully deliver aid to Gaza,” but claimed the flotilla was “not interested in aid - only provocation.”
The vessels were sailing in international waters north of Egypt on Wednesday afternoon and had entered what activists and others called a “danger zone” or “high risk zone.”
While still in international waters, it is an area where the Israeli navy has stopped other boats attempting to break its blockade in the past and which the flotilla was warned not to cross.
There were fears the voyage could end in disaster as the 500-strong crew ignored repeated warnings and refused to hand over the aid to be delivered by land crossing.
On Tuesday night, activists said two Israeli warships aggressively approached two of their boats, circling them and jamming their communications, including the live cameras on board.
“It was an intimidation act. They wanted us to see them,” said Lisi Proença, another activist who was on board the Sirius, a vessel that was targeted alongside the Alma.
After the close encounter, the military vessels eventually left and the flotilla continued on its journey, broadcasting live cameras from many of its boats.
By Wednesday afternoon, the atmosphere appeared to be more relaxed on board the decks of some of the sailboats that broadcast their journeys through 24/7 livestreams.
Some activists held up messages of solidarity with people in Gaza and chanted, “Free Palestine!” on camera. Music could be heard playing in the background.
Flotilla participants have also flooded social media with videos of their voyage and constant updates.
The flotilla, which began its journey from the Spanish port of Barcelona a month ago, aimed to reach the shores of Gaza by Thursday morning.
However, activists knew that was unlikely and said they were expecting Israeli authorities to try to stop them at any moment, as they have done in past attempts.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the flotilla a provocation and warned them to stop and transfer their aid through other channels into Gaza.
The Israeli government has accused some of the flotilla members of being linked to Hamas, while providing little evidence to support their claim.
Activists have strongly rejected the accusations and said Israel was trying to justify potential attacks on them.
The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates that a state only has jurisdiction up to 12 nautical miles (19 kilometers) from its shores.
In general, states don't have the right to seize ships in international waters, though armed conflict is an exception to this.
Yuval Shany, an expert on international law at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said that as long as Israel's blockade of Gaza is “militarily justified, Israel can intercept the vessel after prior warning.”
Whether the blockade is militarily justified and the legality of the blockade is a point of contention.
The flotilla argues they are a civilian, unarmed group and that the passage of humanitarian aid is guaranteed under international law.
The flotilla's advance comes as Israeli forces killed at least 31 Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, local Hamas-run hospitals said, as questions churned about U.S. President Donald J. Trump's peace plan aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza.
Hamas announced it would review the proposal with group members and other Palestinian factions before reaching a decision.