Israeli forces have intercepted nearly all of the 50 activist flotilla boats destined for Gaza, detaining dozens of the 500 protesters aiming to deliver aid to the enclave.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which featured climate activist Greta Thunberg, was halted, with Israel’s Foreign Ministry announcing the conclusion of the operation. Israeli airstrikes and gunfire overnight and into Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least 41 Palestinians in Gaza, while Hamas deliberated its response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace proposal to end the long-standing conflict.
The proposal demands that Hamas release all 48 hostages, relinquish power, and disarm in exchange for the freedom of numerous Palestinian prisoners and cessation of hostilities. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the terms, the plan does not outline a clear route to Palestinian statehood.
The flotilla, which originally consisted of over 40 boats and close to 450 activists, carried a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza with the primary objective of challenging Israel’s blockade and halting the ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry labeled the flotilla a “provocation,” noting that other nations had offered to transport the aid onboard. Organizers of the flotilla reported that at least 39 of their vessels were intercepted or presumed intercepted during an Israeli operation throughout the night.
Israeli authorities later confirmed that only one boat remained at a distance and would also be intercepted. The conflict initiated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an assault on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 others.
Currently, 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with approximately 20 believed to be alive. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has led to the deaths of over 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israeli forces apprehended numerous individuals from the flotilla, including Greta Thunberg, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, and European Parliament member Rima Hassan. Since Israel initiated a major offensive in Gaza City last month, around 400,000 Palestinians have fled the famine-stricken area.
On Thursday morning, smoke was visible in northern Gaza as residents evacuated southward.
