Gaza strip: The Global Sumud Flotilla announced late Sunday that it had detected "unidentified vessels" near its boats as it headed to the Gaza Strip to break an Israeli blockade of the Palestinian enclave. According to Anadolu Agency, the humanitarian aid flotilla reported on the US social media platform X that "naval vessels and speedboats were spotted in front of, behind, and to one side of the fleet." In a separate statement shared by the flotilla's crisis desk, organizers noted the 'movement of unidentified drones and military elements' around the convoy. This development occurred after the flotilla proclaimed its arrival in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. The Global Sumud Flotilla 2026 Spring Mission is specifically aimed at breaking Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and delivering crucial humanitarian aid. The flotilla faced interception by the Israeli army off the coast of Crete between April 29 and April 30. The aid flotilla was attacked on April 30 near Crete, approximately 600 na utical miles from its intended destination. The flotilla's initial ships, carrying humanitarian aid, departed from Barcelona on April 12, while the main fleet embarked from the Italian island of Sicily on April 26, with the objective of challenging Israel's longstanding blockade. Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, in place since 2007, has severely impacted the region's 2.4 million residents, pushing many to the brink of starvation. The Israeli army initiated a severe two-year offensive on Gaza in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of more than 72,000 people, injuring over 172,000, and causing extensive destruction across the besieged territory.