Israeli troops intercept a flotilla off Cyprus as it tries to breach the
Gaza blockade
[May 19, 2026]
By SUZAN FRASER and MELANIE LIDMAN
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Israel's navy intercepted an activist flotilla in
international waters off Cyprus on Monday, halting the latest attempt to
challenge a naval blockade of Gaza and draw attention to the grim living
conditions for Palestinians in the war-battered coastal territory.
More than 50 vessels departed from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, last
week in what the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as
the final leg of their planned journey to Gaza’s shores.
The activists' livestream showed them putting on life jackets and
raising their hands as a boat carrying Israeli troops approached. When
the troops boarded, the livestream abruptly ended.
Other footage showed Israeli forces on speedboats approaching and
instructing the activists to move to the front of the boat. At least 31
boats were intercepted in the operation by Monday evening, according to
Global Sumud Flotilla's tracker.
The interceptions took place well outside Cypriot territorial waters
that stretch 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the island's coastline, at a
location some 167 kilometers (104 miles) away, according to the national
center responsible for search and rescue operations there.
The center said it had not received any distress calls from the area.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides also said that Israel did not
inform Cypriot authorities of its intention to intercept the flotilla.
Israeli troops boarded the flotilla vessels in broad daylight
Organizers said the boats were intercepted 250 nautical miles (463
kilometers) from the shores of Gaza. Unlike previous interceptions,
which mostly took place under the cover of night, the Israeli military
boarded the boats in broad daylight.
Israel has maintained a sea blockade of Gaza since the Palestinian
militant group Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, and it
intensified that blockade in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led
attacks on Israel which killed around 1,200 people and saw more than 250
taken hostage. Critics say the blockade amounts to collective
punishment.
Israel has said the blockade, which restricts the movement of goods and
people in and out of Gaza, was meant to prevent Hamas from arming
itself. Egypt, which has the only border crossing with Gaza not
controlled by Israel, has also greatly restricted movement in and out of
the enclave.
The flotilla organizers said they expect the activists to be taken to
the port of Ashdod, in southern Israel. Activists on previous flotillas
were brought to the same port, where some were processed and immediately
deported, while others were detained before they were deported.
Italy said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has repeatedly asked the
Israeli government for assurances regarding the safety and well-being of
detained Italian activists aboard the flotilla.
Indonesia's Foreign Ministry urged Israel to release all the detained
activists and confirmed two of its nationals, including a journalist,
were aboard the flotilla.
Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said he had summoned
Israel's chargé d’affaires in Madrid on Monday over what he called “a
new violation of international law barely 15 days after the previous
interception.” He estimated there were around 45 Spanish nationals in
the flotilla, of which between 10 and 20 were being detained.
Israel calls the flotilla a provocation
Earlier, Israel’s Foreign Ministry called on activists to “change course
and turn back immediately.”
“Once again, a provocation for the sake of provocation: another
so-called ‘humanitarian aid flotilla’ with no humanitarian aid,” the
ministry posted on X.
The ministry later posted a video of what it said were activists
“hugging after being transferred to Israeli vessels” and said no aid had
so far been found on their boats.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the soldiers for
“thwarting a malicious plan designed to break the isolation we are
imposing on Hamas terrorists in Gaza.”
Netanyahu was supposed to be in court on Monday to testify in his
ongoing corruption trial, but requested a cancellation due to all-day
security meetings.
Hamas condemned Israel’s interception of the flotilla as a “full-fledged
crime of piracy” and called on the international community to pressure
Israel to end its blockade.
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This grab from CCTV footage shows activists aboard a flotilla boat
with their hands in the air as a boat approaches one of more than 50
vessels that departed from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, last week
in what organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the
final leg of their planned journey to Gaza's shores, in
international waters Monday, May 18, 2026. (Global Sumud Flotilla
via AP)
Turkey echoed Hamas' piracy accusation and called on Israel to
immediately halt its operation and release the flotilla
participants.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Israeli actions as
“piracy and banditry” that were carried out with a “fascist
mentality.” He said in a televised address Monday that his country
stands with the people of Gaza and those who help the Palestinian
territory.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara was working with
international bodies and other governments to ensure the safe return
of Turkish citizens on board the flotilla.
Another flotilla was intercepted last month
Israeli forces intercepted more than 20 boats from a flotilla near
the southern Greek island of Crete on April 30, detaining about 175
activists initially. Israeli officials said they had to act early in
international waters because of the high number of boats involved.
Israel took two of the activists — Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Swedish
citizen of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila —
back to Israel, where they were interrogated and detained for
several days. The activists accused Israeli forces of torture, which
Israel denied. Brazil and Spain condemned Israel for “kidnapping”
their citizens. The two were deported from Israel after about a week
in detention.
Organizers say the latest efforts involved a regrouped fleet joined
by additional boats. Nearly 500 activists from 45 countries were
taking part.
Previous flotillas failed to reach Gaza
The activists’ attempt comes less than a year after Israeli
authorities foiled a flotilla of about 50 vessels and around 500
activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson
Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela and several European lawmakers.
The Israeli actions have raised questions on whether a blockade in
international waters is allowed under international law.
In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Turkish boat Mavi Marmara that
was part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Nine Turkish citizens and one
Turkish-American on board were killed. The last time an activist
boat succeeded in reaching Gaza was in 2008.
Flotilla aims to draw attention to the situation in Gaza
The ceasefire in the latest Israel-Hamas war remains fragile and
progress has stalled over the issue of disarming Hamas, with both
sides trading accusations of violations.
Despite the ceasefire, around 2 million Gaza residents still live
with severe shortages of housing, food and medicine.
Gaza has seen near-daily Israeli fire with more than 850 people
killed in the territory since the ceasefire went into effect last
October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ministry says Israel's offensive, launched in response to Hamas'
Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that started the war, have killed more
than 72,700 people. The ministry, part of Gaza's Hamas-run
government, does not give a breakdown between civilians and
militants.
The flotillas have been criticized for bringing minute amounts of
aid on tiny ships. The Israeli defense body overseeing humanitarian
aid to Gaza claims that sufficient aid is entering the territory,
with around 600 trucks bringing in humanitarian assistance daily,
similar to prewar levels.
___
Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Samy
Magdy in Cairo; Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus; Derek
Gatopoulos in Athens, Greece; Giada Zampano in Rome; Julia Frankel
in Jerusalem and Fay Abuelgasim in Cairo contributed to his report.
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