Tel aviv: The Israeli army seized more than 40 of the 54 vessels participating in the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla on Tuesday, as reported by Israeli media. The operation, which unfolded in international waters, also saw approximately 300 activists detained, according to an unnamed security source cited by the Israeli news website Walla.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli navy has not yet intercepted all the flotilla vessels, with several boats remaining in the open sea. The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid, faced the Israeli military's intervention on Monday, sparking widespread international condemnation. The 54 boats had embarked on their journey last Thursday from Marmaris, Turkey, aiming to break the blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007.

This incident mirrors previous confrontations involving the flotilla. In late April, Israeli forces intercepted a similar convoy in international waters near the Greek island of Crete. That convoy included 345 participants from 39 countries, including Turkish citizens. During this earlier incident, Israeli forces seized 21 boats and detained around 175 activists, although the remaining vessels managed to proceed toward Greek territorial waters.

In the previous encounter, most activists were released in international waters except for two individuals-a Spanish and a Brazilian activist-who were detained in Israel before being deported.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with 2.4 million Palestinians, including about 1.5 million displaced individuals, living under catastrophic conditions. A two-year Israeli military campaign has resulted in over 72,700 deaths and more than 172,700 injuries, primarily affecting women and children, and has exacerbated famine conditions.

Despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025, Israel continues to restrict humanitarian aid and conduct strikes, leading to further casualties. Local authorities report that 877 Palestinians have been killed and 2,602 others injured due to these ongoing hostilities.