Israeli forces intercept Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Greece

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The Global Sumud Flotilla activists said on Thursday Israeli soldiers boarded the ships, damaged engines and communications devices in an effort to force them to reverse course.

Israeli military forces have intercepted boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla travelling to Gaza in international waters near Greece, the group said on Thursday.

In a post on X, the group, which initially set sail with 58 vessels carrying activists and aid, aiming to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Strip, said its boats were intercepted in what they called an "illegal act".

The number of vessels seized is unclear at this time. Israeli army radio, citing an unnamed military source, said seven of the 58 boats had been intercepted near Kythira.

The flotilla said it had lost contact with 11 vessels and described 15 as having been boarded.

The Israeli foreign ministry subsequently said forces had detained 175 people from more than 20 boats.

The interceptions began in the early hours of Thursday, more than 600 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza.

“Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel’, pointing lasers and semi-automatic weapons ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees. The boat communications are being jammed and an SOS was issued,” the group shared in a statement.

They also reported many boats in the travelling fleet were damaged in the “violent raid” after Israeli soldiers boarded and “systematically disabled” several ships.

It is not yet clear if Israel arrested all the activists on board every boat it intercepted and took them on board Israeli vessels, or if some activists remain stranded at sea.