Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been detained along with several other passengers from the Gaza aid campaign Global Sumud Flotilla. Israeli forces stopped the vessels at the port of Ashdod. Six boats were captured, including Sirus, Alma, Spectra, Adar, Deir Yassin, and Hoga. Thunberg was on board the Alma, according to The Guardian.
The flotilla’s official website and YouTube channel were running a 24/7 livestream. But communications with several ships, such as Hio, Grand Blue, Yulara, Huga, Spectre, and Aurora, were cut off. Updates on the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) Instagram page confirmed the disruption.
Nearly 500 Participants From 46 Countries
The flotilla brought together participants from across the world. David Adler, a participant, told Bella Caledonia that 497 people from 46 countries were part of the campaign. The boats carried humanitarian aid meant for Gaza.
Hours before the raid, Italy, Spain, and Turkey withdrew their military escorts. This left the vessels vulnerable to Israeli interception. Soon after, Israeli naval forces moved in to stop them.
Israel Calls It “Provocation”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement and a short video of the arrest on the social media platform X. It said that several flotilla vessels had been “safely stopped.” It added that passengers were being transferred to an Israeli port.
“Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” wrote @IsraelMFA on X. In another post, the ministry described the flotilla as a “Hamas-Sumud flotilla” and called its goal “provocation.”
Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health. pic.twitter.com/pzzitP5jN8
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 2, 2025
One official video released by Israel showed a Navy officer speaking with the flotilla.
“You are approaching a blockaded zone. If you wish to deliver aid to Gaza, you may do so through the established channels,” she said. The officer asked the ships to change course to a port where the aid would be inspected before transfer to Gaza.
Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port.
Greta and her friends are safe and healthy. pic.twitter.com/PA1ezier9s— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 1, 2025
Flotilla Rejects Israel’s Demand
The Global Sumud Flotilla refused Israel’s request to change course. Steering committee member Thiago Avila responded in a call, “… moving peacefully, in a non-violent humanitarian mission to take this aid. You are not allowed by international laws to stop us; therefore, we do not comply with your request.”
GSF insisted that its mission was humanitarian and peaceful. The organisers said Israel had no legal right to stop the flotilla.
UN Experts Warned Israel Earlier
Last month, United Nations experts urged Israel not to interfere with the flotilla. They called on Israel to allow the aid mission to proceed unhindered.
“Any attempt to block the flotilla would constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles,” the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner had said.
Despite this, Israel carried out the raid in international waters, according to GSF. The flotilla organisers called the interception an “attack.”
GSF Issues Emergency Statement
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which runs the campaign, shared an emergency statement on X.
“People of conscience have been abducted. The flotilla broke no laws. What is illegal is Israel’s genocide, Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, and Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon,” the group posted.
EMERGENCY: ISRAEL ATTACKS GSF ⁰⁰Israel has attacked the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters. People of conscience have been abducted.⁰⁰The flotilla broke no laws. What is illegal is Israel’s genocide, Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, and the Israel’s use of… pic.twitter.com/IwqLzs274r
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) October 1, 2025
They also accused Israel of violating international law by targeting their vessels.
More Boats Still Sailing
Ship tracking data showed that by 3:48 am GMT Thursday, 15 boats linked to the flotilla had been intercepted. Yet, organisers said their mission would continue.
They confirmed via Telegram that 30 boats were still heading to Gaza. These were 46 nautical miles away from their destination.
Videos shared by activists showed around 20 Israeli naval ships surrounding the flotilla. The Navy reportedly ordered them to turn off their engines.
On Instagram, GSF confirmed that 30 vessels were still moving toward Gaza despite the arrests.
Israel Releases First Pictures of Thunberg
The Israeli Foreign Ministry later released the first pictures of Greta Thunberg and other participants after the raid. The images were meant to confirm that they were safe.
“Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health,” the ministry said on X.
Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health. pic.twitter.com/pzzitP5jN8
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 2, 2025
The statement added that international passengers will eventually be deported to Europe.
Defiant Stand From GSF
Despite the arrests, GSF organisers vowed to continue. They said their humanitarian mission was not over. “We will continue undeterred,” read their statement.
With 30 boats still moving toward Gaza, the group said it would not stop until aid reached the people of Gaza.
