World leaders condemn the interception of the boats sure for Gaza as violating worldwide regulation.
Revealed On 30 Apr 2026
Israel has intercepted 22 out of the 58 help ships travelling via worldwide waters and sure for the besieged Gaza Strip.
The ships make up a part of a second World Sumud Flotilla to attempt in latest months to interrupt an Israeli blockade by carrying humanitarian help to Palestinians in Gaza. They sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12.
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The vessels had been seized by Israel late on Wednesday in worldwide waters off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, a whole lot of miles from Gaza, the flotilla’s organisers mentioned on Thursday.
Israel “kidnapped” 211 of the 400 activists collaborating within the flotilla, together with a Paris metropolis councillor, in accordance with the flotilla’s organisers. Israel’s Overseas Ministry had earlier put the variety of these detained at 175.
Right here’s how world leaders have reacted to the information:
Italy
Italy referred to as for the quick launch of Italian nationals on board the flotilla.
Italy “condemns the seizure of the World Sumud Flotilla vessels… and calls on Israel to right away launch all of the unlawfully detained Italians”, the federal government mentioned in a press release.
Italy’s ANSA information company cited sources among the many organisers saying 24 Italians had been detained.
In its assertion, the federal government additionally referred to as for the “full respect of worldwide regulation and ensures on the bodily security of the folks on board”.
It mentioned it was “dedicated to proceed supplying humanitarian help to Gaza within the framework of our cooperation and in respect of worldwide regulation”.
Spain
Spain’s Overseas Ministry mentioned it “energetically condemns” Israel’s seizure of the flotilla, which is carrying Spanish nationals.
Madrid has summoned Israel’s cost d’affaires to convey its protest over the detention of the vessels, the ministry added in a press release.
Turkiye
Turkiye’s Overseas Ministry condemned Israel’s seizure of the boats within the flotilla as “an act of piracy.”
“By focusing on the World Sumud Flotilla, whose mission is to attract consideration to the humanitarian disaster confronted by the harmless folks of Gaza, Israel has additionally violated humanitarian rules and worldwide regulation,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.
Hamas
In a submit on Telegram, the Palestinian group Hamas condemned the interception, accusing Israel of committing against the law with out accountability and calling for the discharge of these detained.
Israel
Israel’s Overseas Ministry referred to as the flotilla organisers “skilled provocateurs” and mentioned that its forces acted lawfully.
“Because of the massive numbers of vessels taking part within the flotilla and the danger of escalation, and the necessity to stop the breach of a lawful blockade, an early motion was required in accordance with worldwide regulation,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.
