WASHINGTON, United States, MAY 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United States on Thursday backed ally Israel after it intercepted an aid flotilla headed to Gaza and warned European allies, from whose territory the ships sailed, against support for the "stunt."

"Consistent with international law, ports constitute internal waters over which coastal states exercise full territorial sovereignty," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said after flotilla organizers said 211 people were detained by Israel, including a Paris city councillor, in international waters off the Greek island of Crete.

"The United States expects all our allies...to take decisive action against this meaningless political stunt by denying port access, docking, departure and refueling to vessels participating in the flotilla," Pigott said.

"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 pro-Palestinian activists were the latest to attempt to break an Israeli blockade of Gaza, the coastal Palestinian territory that lies in rubble after two years of relentless Israeli assault in response to the unprecedented October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.

Spain, whose left-wing government is often at loggerheads with US President Donald Trump, strongly condemned the Israeli action against the flotilla, summoning the Israeli charge d'affaires in Madrid.