Photo: Collected

JERUSALEM, Oct 8, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli forces on Wednesday intercepted a 
new Gaza-bound aid flotilla, days after thwarting another maritime convoy 
that had tried to break an Israeli blockade on the war-battered Palestinian 
territory.

The Global Sumud Flotilla first reported that three of its vessels had been 
"attacked and illegally intercepted by the Israeli military" in the early 
morning, 220 kilometres (about 140 miles) off the coast of Gaza.

It later said all nine of the flotilla's vessels had been intercepted, 
including the Conscience, adding it was carrying more than 90 journalists, 
doctors and activists.

Israel has blocked several international aid flotillas in recent months from 
reaching Gaza, where the UN says famine has set in after two years of 
devastating conflict.

As the war drags on, solidarity with the Palestinians has grown globally, 
with activists, protesters across the world and increasingly governments 
condemning Israel for its conduct.

Israel confirmed on Wednesday it had intercepted boats entering waters it 
says fall under its blockade of Gaza.

"Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat 
zone ended in nothing. The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an 
Israeli port," its foreign ministry said on social media.

"The passengers are expected to be deported promptly," it added.

The pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the boats 
were carrying "vital aid worth over $110,000... in medicines, respiratory 
equipment, and nutritional supplies that were destined for Gaza's starving 
hospitals".

Turkey's foreign ministry accused Israel of carrying out an "act of piracy", 
describing the intervention against the flotilla as "an attack on civil 
activists, including Turkish citizens and members of parliament".

- Belgian rapper detained -

Israeli authorities detained Belgian rapper Youssef Swatt's aboard one of the 
boats, his lawyers said.

Last week Israeli naval forces stopped another flotilla of 45 vessels from 
the Global Sumud campaign that was carrying politicians and activists 
including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

The move drew mass protests across Europe.

Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel sparked the war in Gaza, 
condemned the interception as a "crime of piracy and maritime terrorism".

Israel expelled Thunberg and scores of fellow campaigners on Monday, many of 
whom complained of mistreatment at the hands of the Israeli authorities -- 
accusations Israel rejected.

Israel has sought to brand the Global Sumud Flotilla an offshoot of Hamas, 
the Palestinian Islamist movement that it is battling to destroy in Gaza.

It said the boats violated a prohibited zone and that little humanitarian aid 
was found on board the vessels.

Palestinian militants' October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 
1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli 
figures.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,183 people, 
according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the 
United Nations considers credible.

The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates 
that over half of the dead are women and children.