Israel Navy begins intercepting vessels from new Gaza flotilla, as foreign ministry criticizes 'aid' found on board

The Israel Navy began intercepting and seizing vessels from the new Global Sumud Flotilla that approached the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday night.

“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,” the Global Sumud Flotilla reported on social media. “Boat communications are being jammed and a SOS was issued.” 

Organizers of a flotilla sailing to the Gaza Strip publish footage in which an Israeli Navy officer can be heard calling on the activists to change course.

"If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, you may do so through established and recognized channels. Please change… pic.twitter.com/l4CGbjZVEF

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 29, 2026

The vessels were intercepted off the coast of Crete, hundreds of miles from Israel, according to tracking data. During previous attempts by the organizers to breach the Israeli maritime blockade of Gaza, the navy has intercepted the vessels closer to Israel. 

Shortly after midnight, the group claimed that contact had been lost with 11 vessels from the flotilla, and calling on governments to “protect the flotilla” and “hold Israel accountable for these flagrant violations of international law.” 

In footage released by the activists, an Israeli naval officer is heard saying, “If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, you may do so through established and recognized channels. Please change course and return to the port of origin. If you are carrying humanitarian aid, you are invited to proceed to the port of Ashdod.” 

On Thursday morning, Israel's Foreign Ministry shared a video reported to be from one of the vessels showing drug paraphernalia and condoms. 

This is the “medical aid” found aboard the PR stunt flotilla: condoms and drugs pic.twitter.com/RKiHrGLWfw

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) April 29, 2026

“This is the ‘medical aid’ found aboard the PR stunt flotilla,” the ministry said in a post to X. 

In another video released by the ministry later in the morning, activists were seen "enjoying themselves" on board an Israeli vessel headed to the mainland. The Foreign Ministry said that it had detained approximately 175 activists from 20 different vessels.

According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, the number of vessels taking part in the attempt to break the blockade was 58. 

Approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats of the condom flotilla are now making their way peacefully to Israel.

In the video: the activists enjoying themselves aboard Israeli vessels pic.twitter.com/0sz8kDpKLX

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) April 30, 2026

In previous flotillas, Israel has highlighted that the amount of aid brought on board the vessels is not even enough to fill one commercial truck, with around 600 trucks of aid arriving in Gaza per day. The Israeli government said this negligible amount of aid is proof that the flotilla is being organized as a press relations stunt. 

Further, the government alleges that the flotilla organizers have direct ties to the Hamas terror group. 

EXPOSED: Official Hamas documents found in the Gaza Strip - now revealed for the first time - prove Hamas’s direct involvement in the funding and execution of the “Sumud” flotilla to Gaza

Hamas documents that were discovered in the Gaza Strip, and are being revealed for the… pic.twitter.com/toyJlIXtVL

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) September 30, 2025

In a statement released Wednesday evening, the ministry said, "The driving force behind the flotilla provocation is Hamas - joining hands with professional provocateurs - with the aim of sabotaging President Trump’s peace plan transition to its second phase and intended to divert attention from Hamas’s refusal to disarm."

“Like previous provocations, this is nothing but a PR stunt: a provocation without humanitarian aid. As international media have exposed, these are professional provocateurs on pleasure cruises, addicted to self-promotion,” it concluded.