30.04.2026 09:00
While the Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Fleet carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in international waters, the moment of the attack was captured on camera. It was reported that 22 ships were seized, and the fleet included 31 Turkish activists. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as an "act of piracy" and stated that necessary initiatives were taken for the citizens on board.
The Global Sumud Fleet, which set out to break the blockade in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters. Footage captured Israeli soldiers boarding some boats, while it was reported that 7 of the 58 boats were seized and that 31 Turkish activists were also on the fleet.
ISRAELI NAVY ATTACKS THE SUMUD FLEET
The Global Sumud Fleet, which set out with 58 boats and 345 participants from 39 different countries to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, was intercepted by the Israeli navy in the Mediterranean.
It was reported that the fleet was blockaded by Israeli warships while hundreds of nautical miles away from the Gaza coast and off the coast of Crete. It was stated that Israeli soldiers boarded some ships by speedboats, communication with many boats was cut off, and 22 ships were unaccounted for.
According to a report by Israeli Army Radio, an Israeli source stated, “We have begun seizing the Gaza aid fleet ships far from the Israeli coast.”
22 SHIPS SEIZED
According to information based on Israeli Army Radio, the Israeli navy captured 22 of the 58 boats belonging to the Global Sumud Fleet.
The same source reported that the intervention was “the operation carried out at the greatest distance” compared to previous attempts. It was stated that the fleet was intercepted near the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean.
The Global Sumud Fleet announced that during the attack, intense jamming was applied to the electronic systems of many boats, and high-speed boats, said to belong to Israel, approached some vessels. Activists reported that lasers were pointed at the boats, weapons were aimed, and various instructions were given to participants on the deck.
31 TURKISH ACTIVISTS ON THE FLEET
The Global Sumud Fleet includes 345 participants from 39 different countries. It was stated that 178 of the participants joined the ships from Spain, and 167 from Italy. There are also 31 Turkish activists on the fleet.
The names of the Turkish activists on the fleet are as follows:
Ümmü Gülsüm Durmuş, Mustafa Enes Topal, Muhammed Özdemir, Enver Öztürk, Hüseyin Yılmaz, Seyit Ahmet Çapan, Ali Deniz, Yunus Kava, Şahin Yaslık, Mustafa Arslan, Abdulselam Demir, Nevzat Öylek, Nevzat Güzel, Halil Erdoğmuş, Abdüllatif Faslı, Ferzan Çiftçi, Hüseyin Şuayb Ordu, Sibel Can Karakoç, Mehmet Yıldırım, Ömer Aslan, Fatma Zengin, Mehmet Yasir Cebeci, Görkem Duru, Fatih Genç, Mehmet Atlı, Bilali Yıldırım, Mükremin Köse, Salih Tekin, Ramazan Tekdemir, Abdullah Saydemir, Mahmut Çağatay Yavuz.
MOMENT OF ATTACK CAPTURED ON LIVE CAMERAS
The moment Israeli soldiers landed on one of the boats of the Global Sumud Fleet in international waters was captured by the fleet's live broadcast cameras.
The footage showed activists raising their hands, while Israeli soldiers shouted instructions to those on the boat. Activists announced that Israeli military boats approached the ships, aiming lasers and semi-automatic weapons at them.
In a statement on its social media account, the Global Sumud Fleet said, “Military boats approached our ships, identified themselves as Israeli naval vessels, aimed lasers and semi-automatic weapons at us, and ordered participants to move to the front of the boats and kneel down.”
STRONG REACTION FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: THIS ATTACK IS PIRACY
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Israel’s intervention against the Global Sumud Fleet. In its statement, the ministry described Israel’s attack as an “act of piracy.”
The statement emphasized that Israel violated freedom of navigation in international waters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to take a common stance against Israel’s actions.
The ministry also stated that it has initiated necessary steps regarding the situation of Turkish citizens and other passengers on the fleet.
ISRAELI SOLDIERS BOARD SOME BOATS
According to a report in the Irish Independent, Israeli soldiers boarded some boats of the Global Sumud Fleet advancing off the coast of Crete.
Activists reported that Israeli soldiers approached the ships in speedboats, boarded some vessels, and directed participants to the deck at gunpoint. It was stated that the activists on the boat tried to avoid detection by turning off the lights but reported that they were expecting the intervention.
Margaret Connolly, sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, also appealed to the Irish government in a video message she recorded wearing a life jacket. Connolly called for an end to the use of Shannon Airport by the US military.
REACTION FROM EUROPE
Irene Montero, a Member of the European Parliament from Spain’s Podemos party, stated in a post on social media that Israel had begun seizing ships belonging to the humanitarian aid mission in international waters.
Montero noted that many European citizens were on the boats and said the intervention was a serious violation of international law. Montero also called on the Spanish government and the European Commission to take responsibility.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL SUMUD FLEET
The Global Sumud Fleet 2026 Spring Mission, aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade on Gaza and delivering vital humanitarian aid, set sail from Barcelona, Spain, on April 12.
With participants joining from Italy’s Sicily Island, more than 60 boats set out into the Mediterranean again on April 26, and on the night of April 29, the Israeli army unlawfully intervened in international waters off the coast of Crete and began seizing boats carrying activists.
According to information provided by fleet officials, there are 345 participants from 39 different countries on the boats, including Turks.
Fleet officials announced that contact had been lost with dozens of their ships, and no reliable information could be obtained about the fate of the activists.
During the Global Sumud Fleet’s first attempt in September 2025, carrying humanitarian aid, the Israeli army also unlawfully intervened in international waters in the Mediterranean and detained activists and boats.
Source: AA, IHA, DHA