Gaza-bound flotilla says Israeli forces intercept fleet near Cyprus

Fifty ships had departed from southwestern Turkey on May 14, as part of the flotilla

Published – May 18, 2026 04:35 pm IST – Jerusalem

AFP

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators take part in a protest against Israel’s interception of aid ships bound for Gaza in international waters, outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, April 30, 2026. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Israeli forces were intercepting a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Monday (May 18, 2026) after it set sail from Türkiye last week, with organisers saying one of the vessels was stopped west of Cyprus.

“Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IDF forces are currently boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight,” the Global Sumud Flotilla posted on X. “Normalisation of the occupation’s violence is a threat to us all.”

Around 50 ships had departed from southwestern Türkiye on Thursday (May 14, 2026) as part of the flotilla. On Monday (May 18, 2026), Israel had vowed to block the vessels.

Israeli authorities taking 2 activists who led Gaza-bound flotilla to Israel for questioning

“Israel will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” the Foreign Ministry posted on X. “Israel calls on all participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately.”

The Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether Israeli forces were intercepting the boats.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is the third initiative in a year aimed at breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has suffered severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October 2023.

Israeli authorities reject claims of aid shortages, saying the Palestinian territory is “flooded” with supplies.

Israel to release two Gaza flotilla activists ahead of deportation: rights group

Israeli forces intercepted the second flotilla in international waters off Greece on April 30, expelling most of the activists to Europe. But they arrested two of them, who were held for several days in Israel before they were deported.

Rights groups said the arrests were illegal and that the men suffered abuse while in Israeli detention. Israeli authorities have rejected the abuse allegations but filed no charges against the pair.

Published – May 18, 2026 04:35 pm IST

Related Topics

Israel-Palestine Conflict

/

Israel

/

Palestine