Breaking: Israel Redirects Detained Activists to Greece After High-Seas Standoff

In a recent development, Israel has decided to transfer a group of activists, who were detained by its military in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, to Greece. This decision was confirmed by the Israeli government on Thursday.

According to a statement from Israel’s foreign ministry, approximately 175 activists were intercepted and removed from over 20 vessels that were destined for Gaza. These boats were laden with aid intended for the region, which continues to endure significant hardship.

The ministry’s statement was accompanied by a video showing the activists aboard an Israeli navy ship, highlighting the operation undertaken by the military forces.

This flotilla represents the latest endeavor by pro-Palestinian activists to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The blockade has long been a point of contention, drawing international attention and sparking numerous attempts to deliver aid to the area.

Just prior to the interception, the organizers of the activist group reported that their vessels had been encircled by Israeli military ships near the Greek island of Crete, marking a significant moment in their campaign to provide humanitarian support.

They dispute Israel’s numbers, saying the army had “kidnapped” 211 activists, including a Paris city councillor.

The flotilla set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain and Syracuse in Italy.

Australians onboard

Fourteen Australians are thought to be aboard the flotilla, according to a spokesperson for the group, with only two of them remaining in communication.

Alexa Stewart told reporters on Thursday that Jews Against the Occupation member Anny Mokotow and Brisbane resident Sam Watson were still sailing to Gaza after the rest of the group had been detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Zack Schofield, Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor, Bianca Webb-Pullman, Surya McEwen and Cameron Tribe are all alleged by Stewart to have been detained by the IDF.

Greens leader Larissa Waters called the incident “yet another shocking breach of international law by Israel”.

“Foreign Minister Penny Wong must back the brave flotilla crew and fight for their release,” she wrote on social media.

A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the ABC that Australian diplomats were ready to offer consular assistance to those who had been detained, but that the “ability to provide support in Israel and Palestine is limited at this time due to the conflict in the Middle East”.

“We continue to urge Australians not to join others seeking to break the Israeli naval blockade, as they are putting themselves and others at risk of injury, death, arrest or deportation,” the spokesperson said.

“We encourage those wishing to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza to do so through established channels.

“Australia has been part of the international call on Israel to comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale.

“With a ceasefire in Gaza in place, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian aid must flow to those in desperate need.”

Boats still en route

In the summer and autumn of 2025, a first voyage by the Global Sumud Flotilla across the Mediterranean towards Gaza drew worldwide attention.

The boats in that flotilla were intercepted by Israel off the coasts of Egypt and the Gaza Strip in early October.

Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and then expelled by Israel.

The organisers of the latest flotilla announced early on Thursday that their boats had been surrounded by Israeli military ships while off the coast of Crete.

“Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel’, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees,” said the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency verified, based on tracking data from the organisers, that the boats were intercepted in the Greek exclusive economic zone.

Around 30 boats from the flotilla are still en route, most now in Greek territorial waters south of Crete, according to the same source.

Coron said the operation had taken place more than 1,000 kilometres from the Gaza Strip. The next furthest such operation to date had been 185km away in June 2025, she said.

Israel’s foreign ministry said “condoms and drugs” were found on the boats and published a video of activists “enjoying themselves” doing cartwheels aboard an Israeli vessel.

Activist Scola said her ship had been carrying school supplies and food.

The flotilla comprising more than 50 vessels set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain and Syracuse in Italy.

‘Brazen interception’

“Due to the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade, an early action was required in accordance with international law,” Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said.

But Amnesty International condemned the “brazen interception”.

“The Israeli navy crossing hundreds of miles at sea just to ensure civilian boats carrying food, baby formula, and medical supplies don’t make it to Palestinians reveals the lengths Israel is prepared to go to in order to maintain its cruel and unlawful 19-year-long blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip,” Amnesty’s Erika Guevara Rosas said in a statement.

Israel controls all entry points to Gaza. It has been accused by the United Nations and foreign NGOs of strangling the flow of goods into the territory, causing shortages since the start of the war in October 2023.

The Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

Hamas’s October 2023 attack killed 1,221 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures compiled by AFP.

Israeli military operations carried out in retaliation have killed more than 72,000 people in the Palestinian territory, also mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

A fragile ceasefire was reached last October after two years of devastating conflict.

Around 1.9 million Palestinan people have been displaced and 60 per cent of the population are now without homes, according to the latest UN reports.

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