Israel faces global outrage after seizing Gaza aid flotilla

Israel drew widespread condemnation and mass protests on Thursday after its military intercepted nearly all of a flotilla of about 40 boats carrying aid to Gaza, detaining more than 450 international activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.Live footage from the vessels showed heavily armed Israeli soldiers in helmets and night vision gear boarding the boats as passengers, wearing life vests, raised their hands in surrender. A separate video released by Israel’s foreign ministry showed Thunberg sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers.The Global Sumud Flotilla, which organized the mission, confirmed on X that over 450 volunteers were taken captive. Some were reportedly transferred onto a cargo ship before being brought ashore at Ashdod port.One vessel, the Marinette, was said to be “still sailing strong” late Thursday, around 80 nautical miles from Gaza and just 10 miles away from the area where Israeli forces launched their interception.Thunberg, 22, had pre-recorded ...

• 03 Oct 2025