‘Act of piracy’: World reacts to Israeli interception of Gaza aid flotilla

World leaders condemn the interception of the boats bound for Gaza as violating international law.Boats carrying activists and humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza reposition in the port during a symbolic send-off as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla in Barcelona, Spain on April 12, 2026 [File: Joan Mateu Parra/AP]Published On 30 Apr 2026Israel has intercepted 22 out of the 58 aid ships travelling through international waters and bound for the besieged Gaza Strip.The ships make up part of a second Global Sumud Flotilla to try in recent months to break an Israeli blockade by carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. They sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3At least four people killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza despite ‘ceasefire’list 2 of 3What lies ahead for Gaza after ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon?list 3 of 3‘State of war’: Why Israel has escalated attacks in Gazaend of listThe vessels were seized by Israel late on Wednesday in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese Peninsula, hundreds of miles from Gaza, the flotilla’s organisers said on Thursday.Israel “kidnapped” 211 of the 400 activists taking part in the flotilla, including a Paris city councillor, according to the flotilla’s organisers. Israel’s Foreign Ministry had earlier put the number of those detained at 175.Here’s how world leaders have reacted to the news:ItalyItaly called for the immediate release of Italian nationals on board the flotilla.Italy “condemns the seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels … and calls on Israel to immediately release all the unlawfully detained Italians”, the government said in a statement.Italy’s ANSA news agency cited sources among the organisers saying 24 Italians had been detained.In its statement, the government also called for the “full respect of international law and guarantees on the physical safety of the people on board”.It said it was “committed to continue supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza in the framework of our cooperation and in respect of international law”.GermanyIn a joint statement with Italy, Germany said it was following developments regarding the flotilla with “great concern” and called for international law to be respected and for “restraint from irresponsible actions”.SpainSpain’s Foreign Ministry said it “energetically condemns” Israel’s seizure of the flotilla, which is carrying Spanish nationals.Madrid has summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires to convey its protest against the detention of the vessels, the ministry added in a statement.TurkiyeTurkiye’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s seizure of the boats in the flotilla as “an act of piracy.”“By targeting the Global Sumud Flotilla, whose mission is to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the innocent people of Gaza, Israel has also violated humanitarian principles and international law,” the ministry said in a statement.HamasIn a post on Telegram, the Palestinian group Hamas condemned the interception, accusing Israel of committing a crime without accountability and calling for the release of those detained.Global Sumud Flotilla organisersThe flotilla’s organisers condemned Israel’s seizure of its vessels.“This is piracy,” they said in a statement. “This is the unlawful seizure of human beings on the open sea near Crete, an assertion that Israel can operate with total impunity, far beyond its own borders, with no consequences.”“No state has the right to claim, police, or occupy international waters. Yet, that is exactly what Israel has done, extending its regime of control outward, occupying the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Europe,” the statement said.Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International called for the immediate release of the detained activists.“The crew of the intercepted vessels must be immediately and unconditionally released,” it said in a statement shared on social media.“While in custody, the Israeli authorities must ensure that all activists are immediately granted access to consular support, treated humanely and protected from torture and other ill-treatment.”IsraelIsrael’s Foreign Ministry called the flotilla organisers “professional provocateurs” and said that its forces acted lawfully.“Due to the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade, an early action was required in accordance with international law,” the ministry said in a statement.