Gaza aid flotilla vessels taken to Crete after Israeli interception

Israel’s military reportedly seized 22 vessels sailing among the Global Sumud Flotilla.More than ‌160 activists on board aid ships forming a flotilla bound for Gaza have been taken to the Greek ⁠island of Crete ⁠after Israeli forces seized their vessels in international waters near Greece earlier this week, Freedom Flotilla organisers have said.The organisers told the Reuters news agency on Friday that 168 members of the flotilla crew had been taken to Crete while two activists remained with Israeli authorities.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump says ‘let them play’ after FIFA confirms Iran World Cup games in USlist 2 of 3How is Israel replicating its Gaza tactics in Lebanon?list 3 of 3Flotilla activist: Israel’s ‘brutal attack’ will not deter usend of listAccording to the group’s tracker, 22 boats have been intercepted so far by Israel, while 47 others are still sailing.On Wednesday, Israeli military forces intercepted the boats travelling with the Global Sumud Flotilla from Barcelona in Spain, using drones, communications jamming technology, and armed raiding parties to halt the humanitarian fleet in the middle of the Mediterranean as it headed to Gaza, according to organisers and Israeli media.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the activists on the intercepted boats would be taken to Greece.On Friday, an Israeli army ship transferred 168 members of the flotilla crew to Greek boats, which then took them to Crete, where buses and an ambulance car waited for them, organisers said and Reuters footage showed.A source who asked not to be identified also told Reuters that the remaining 47 boats at sea were still sailing off southern Crete and planned to anchor there at some point before continuing onwards to Gaza.Each ship is carrying about a tonne of food, medical supplies and other equipment, the source added.Security camera footage shows crew members of the flotilla that sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona, carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, raise their arms as the vessel is said to be intercepted by the Israeli army off the coast of Greece, April 30, 2026 [Handout/Global Sumud Flotilla via Reuters]‘A straight-up attack’In an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Gur Tsabar, a spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, described Israel’s boarding of its vessels as “a straight-up attack on unarmed civilian boats in international waters”.