Israel Seizes Over 40 Ships from Global Sumud Armada En Route to Gaza
A senior Israeli military official said that the Israeli forces had seized more than 40 of the 54 vessels taking part in the Global Sumud flotilla, which is attempting to break the blockade on Gaza and reach the enclave’s coast. The operation took place on Tuesday (19 May). Israeli media outlet Walla reported that around 300 activists were detained in the operation, citing unnamed security sources. The navy has not yet intercepted all ships; several vessels remain at large at sea and had not been stopped.
The seizure occurred a day after the Israeli military launched an attack on a humanitarian-mission flotilla in international waters on Monday, provoking wide international condemnation. The Global Sumud flotilla, comprising 54 ships, had sailed from Marmaris in Turkey on Thursday in a renewed bid to breach the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza since 2007.
Similar incidents were reported at the end of April, when Israeli forces intercepted flotilla ships off the coast of Crete, Greece. That convoy carried 345 participants from 39 countries, including a number of Turkish nationals. In that operation, Israeli forces seized 21 ships carrying around 175 activists, while others continued toward Greek territorial waters. Most activists were subsequently released in international waters, though two individuals – a Spanish and a Brazilian activist – were briefly held in Israel before deportation.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated amid restrictions on aid. Some 2.4 million Palestinians, including about 1.5 million refugees, are said to be living in severely deprived conditions. Local authorities report more than 72,700 dead and over 172,700 injured during the two-year conflict, with the majority of casualties among women and children. The crisis has also been exacerbated by growing threats of famine.
Although a ceasefire was announced in October 2025, local authorities accuse Israel of continuing to restrict humanitarian access and of daily attacks. Government figures put the death toll at at least 877 Palestinians and 2,602 injured since the ceasefire announcement. (Anadolu/E-4)
The Indonesian Photojournalists Association (PFI) Centre in Jakarta condemned the Israeli military’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2026 in international waters. Two Republika journalists, Bambang Noroyono and Thoudy Badai, were detained by the Israeli military in international waters.
Copyright © 2026 Media Group - mediaindonesia. All rights reserved.