Israel Prepares to Seize Global Sumud Ships and Imprison Activists in Floating Prisons

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday (17/5/2026) that Israel is preparing to take control of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which departed from Turkey last week heading towards the Gaza Strip in an effort to break the Israeli naval blockade imposed on the territory. The newspaper stated that the flotilla, consisting of approximately 50 ships, is expected to arrive in the region within the next two to three days.

An Israeli source, as quoted by Al Jazeera on Monday (18/5/2026), stated, “We will seize the ships of the flotilla and move its participants to floating prisons.” The source added, “We expect the participants this time to be more aggressive than before and may be carrying sharp weapons,” according to the claim.

The source continued, “Our estimate is that Thiago Avila and Saif Abu Kishk are aboard the flotilla, and this time we will not release them immediately.”

Israel previously released both activists on 10 May after detaining them during their participation in the international Global Sumud Flotilla, which comprised over 50 ships and departed from ports in France and Spain on 12 April. The Global Sumud ships set sail again from the Turkish coast towards the Gaza Strip last Thursday on a humanitarian mission aimed at highlighting the suffering of the Palestinian people and delivering emergency aid.

On 29 April, the Israeli military launched an attack, described as illegal, in international waters near the island of Crete against the flotilla ships, which at the time carried 345 participants from 39 countries. Israel detained 21 ships containing approximately 175 activists, while the remaining vessels continued their journey towards Greek territorial waters.