Israeli forces began intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla on Monday after the convoy of around 50 ships departed southwestern Turkey on Thursday.

The fleet, carrying humanitarian aid, was boarded near Cyprus in international waters. It is the second Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted by Israel within a month.

What is the Global Sumud Flotilla and why was it intercepted?

The Global Sumud Flotilla is a pro-Palestinian aid convoy organized to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Israeli forces intercepted the fleet near Cyprus on May 18, boarding at least some of its vessels.

Israel said the convoy was a political provocation rather than a genuine humanitarian mission, and vowed to prevent it from reaching Gaza.

What did flotilla organizers say about the interception?

The flotilla announced on X that four Israeli warships had approached and begun boarding its vessels. “Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IOF forces are currently boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight,” the group said.

The flotilla tracker showed several vessels stopped west of Cyprus, and organizers said communication links with ships had been cut.

Gorkem Duru, a member of the Turkey branch of the Global Sumud Flotilla who was not on board, told AFP that at least two to three boats had been stopped. He added that some vessels were still continuing toward Gaza despite the interceptions.

Organizers called on governments to intervene, describing the boarding as illegal piracy.

What was Israel’s position on the Gaza aid flotilla?

Israel’s foreign ministry described the flotilla as a provocation organized by violent groups, naming Turkish organizations Mavi Marmara and IHH, with the latter designated by Israel as a terrorist organization.

The ministry denied that Gaza faces an aid shortage, saying more than 1.58 million tons of humanitarian aid had entered the territory since October. It called on all flotilla participants to turn back immediately.

The Israeli foreign ministry also said the flotilla’s aim was to serve Hamas, divert attention from the group’s refusal to disarm, and obstruct progress on President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

Under the ceasefire framework that took effect in October, Gaza is to be fully demilitarized, including the disarmament of Hamas. Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

What happened to the previous Gaza flotilla?

The prior flotilla attempt was intercepted in international waters off Greece, with most activists expelled to Europe. Israeli forces arrested two activists, Spanish-Palestinian national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, and brought them to Israel for questioning.

The pair were held at a prison in Ashkelon before being deported several days later.

Rights groups said the arrests were illegal and that both men suffered abuse during Israeli detention.

Israeli authorities rejected the abuse allegations but filed no charges against either activist. Dozens of other participants from that convoy were taken to the Greek island of Crete and released.

How has Gaza’s humanitarian situation worsened during the war?

The war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has left the territory facing severe shortages of food, medicine and other essential supplies. Israel has at times halted aid deliveries entirely during the conflict.

The flotilla was among several sea-based attempts since the start of the war to bypass the blockade and deliver supplies directly to Gaza.