Israeli Military Escorts Global Sumud Flotilla Activist Ships

Images from Ashdod port in southern Israel on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, show Israeli troops on a vessel bearing the emblem of the Global Sumud Flotilla Armada, with a cargo ship in the background. The port is Ashdod. The Global Sumud Flotilla stated on its website that 48 ships had been intercepted, with around 400 people detained and two ships still sailing in the eastern Mediterranean. A flag of Israel was also seen flying on one of the ships bearing the flotilla’s emblem. The ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla were making their third attempt to sail from southern Turkey on Thursday, after earlier efforts to deliver aid to Gaza were stopped by Israel in international waters. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it would not permit violations of the lawful naval blockade of Gaza.