On April 30, 2026, Israeli naval forces illegally intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete, more than 600 miles from Gaza, seizing 22 of 58 civilian vessels and abducting over 175 activists from more than 100 countries. The flotilla was carrying food, medicine, and medical equipment to Gaza's 2.3 million people, who have lived under illegal Israeli occupation since 1967 and a suffocating naval blockade since 2007.

Israel, a state the International Court of Justice is actively investigating for genocide, and which the UN, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have declared an apartheid regime, used armed boarding parties, drones, and communications jamming to forcibly seize unarmed civilian boats operating under international maritime law, to which Israel has no jurisdiction.

Two abducted activists, Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, were tortured, beaten, and held in Israeli custody before being forcibly deported on May 11. Thiago Ávila's mother died while he remained imprisoned. Released activists have testified to a systematic pattern of torture, sexual assault, forced nudity, starvation, and exposure to extreme temperatures while in Israeli custody. At least 30 participants were injured during the illegal boarding, and at least four have reported sexual assault.

As of May 14, 2026: The flotilla has not been stopped. 54 ships have departed from Marmaris, Turkey today, carrying nearly 500 participants from 45 countries, and are heading directly to Gaza. The mission continues. The world is watching.

For live updates and vessel tracking: globalsumudflotilla.org/tracker