Tel Aviv [Israel], May 2: Israel on Thursday said that dozens of activists intercepted by the Israeli military from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters off Crete would be taken to Greek shores where they would disembark.
Israel's foreign ministry earlier said around 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 boats and were heading back to Israel. The intercepted vessels form part of the latest flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists seeking to break Israel's blockade on Gaza. Flotilla organisers put the number of detainees at 211, including a Paris city councillor.
"In coordination with the Greek government, the individuals transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be disembarked on a Greek beach in the coming hours," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X, thanking the Greek government "for its willingness to receive the flotilla participants."
Helene Coron, a spokeswoman for the Global Sumud France, had earlier told an online news conference that the operation took place near the Greek island of Crete, at an "unprecedented" distance from the Gaza coast.
Yasmine Scola, an activist on board the flotilla, said her colleagues had been "kidnapped" by Israel. Scola said her ship had been carrying school supplies and food.
Rome and Berlin said in a joint statement that they were following developments "with deep concern," while Madrid blasted the seizure and said it had summoned Israel's charge d'affaires in Spain.
Paris announced that 15 French nationals had been detained and Rome called for the immediate release of "all the unlawfully detained Italians" -- numbering 24 according to the Italian news agency Ansa. Coron said those intercepted included Paris Communist local councillor Raphaelle Primet.
In the summer and autumn of 2025, a first voyage by the Global Sumud Flotilla across the Mediterranean towards Gaza drew worldwide attention.
The boats in that flotilla were intercepted by Israel off the coasts of Egypt and the Gaza Strip in early October. Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and then expelled by Israel.
The organisers of the latest flotilla announced early on Thursday that their boats had been surrounded by Israeli military ships while off the coast of Crete.
Source: Qatar Tribune
