Flotilla says it is ‘still sailing strong’ towards Gaza
The Gaza-bound aid flotilla said dozens of its ships were still “sailing strong” towards the Palestinian territory on Thursday despite the interception from Israeli naval forces.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said most of its vessels were continuing their journey as of early Thursday morning, nearing the coast of the Gaza strip despite the interruptions.
“30 boats still sailing strong on their way to Gaza, just 46 nautical miles away, despite the incessant aggressions from the Israeli occupation navy,” the flotilla posted on X with a time stamp of 3.20am local time (0020 GMT).
Agence France-Presse also quoted flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek as saying Israeli forces had intercepted 13 boats carrying around 200 people in total, including many from Spain and Italy.
But, he said in a video posted on Instagram, “our mission is going on”.
“They are determined,” he said of the remaining vessels. “They are motivated, and they are doing everything within their hands to be able to break the siege by this early morning.”
Key events
Jakub Krupa
At least three Polish citizens were believed to be involved in the Gaza flotilla intercepted by Israel last night, including a lawmaker from the ruling Civic Coalition party, Franek Sterczewski.
Earlier in the day, Sterczewski said the flotilla had been on high alert amid reports of a possible interception, “waiting to see how events unfold.”
After the reports of the interception, the Global Movement to Gaza Poland account on X published a pre-recorded video of Sterczewski.
“If you’re seeing this video, it means I’ve been abducted by the Israeli occupying forces on international waters during the peaceful humanitarian mission of the Global Sumud Flotilla,” he said.
“A heartfelt request: stand up for me and my companions with the Polish authorities. Prime minister, minister of foreign affairs – from the bottom of my heart and as plainly as I can say it, I ask you: do everything to ensure that all members of the flotilla from the Polish delegation return home safely. Long live a free Palestine, long live a free Poland. All eyes on Gaza.”
Two other Polish citizens reported to be participating in the flotilla are Nina Ptak, vice-president of the Nomada Association, and Omar Faris, chair of the Social and Cultural Association of Polish Palestinians.
Ewa Jasiewicz, a London-born British-Polish activist and journalist, is also believed to be involved.
A spokesperson for the Polish ministry of foreign affairs said this morning all Polish citizens were “safe and unharmed,” and the Polish consul was in Ashdod to offer help.
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk told reporters in Copenhagen that the consular services will “treat MP Sterczewski like any other citizen.”
He said: “The Polish state exists to take care of every Polish citizen in difficult, critical situations – not because he is a member of parliament, not because he decided to take part in this maritime demonstration against Israel as that was Mr. Sterczewski’s decision, and it is not my role to judge his motivations, but to provide consular support, just as we would for any other citizen in such a situation.”
But in a hint of criticism, he added:“But once again, I warn all Polish citizens – and members of parliament, in particular, should be especially cautious: if our Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues an appeal not to travel to critical areas, because it can lead to consequences and because evacuation is expensive, then I urge everyone to heed those warnings.”
Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski also indicated his frustration, saying: “The Polish ministry of foreign affairs repeatedly urged people not to travel to certain parts of the world. There are countries like Iran, Belarus, and Russia that simply take citizens of western countries as hostages. And I will say this bluntly to those who would like to ignore our recommendations: I have no hostages to exchange. You’re going at your own risk.”
Sikorski also floated the idea of a draft bill that would allow the state to recover the costs of consular interventions in such circumstances.
An Israeli navy ship has arrived at Israel’s Ashdod port after intercepting boats carrying aid to Gaza and detaining activists aboard, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg.
This comes after Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that all detained flotilla passengers are “making their way safely and peacefully to Israel”, where their deportation process back to Europe will begin.
Only four vessels believed to be still sailing
Only four vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla are believed to be still sailing, according to the live tracker. The Independent reports that Israeli forces have intercepted 39 boats carrying activists and aid to Gaza – and only one boat is still headed to the Strip.
Of the four vessels that are listed as “sailing”, two are under legal support and are heading north, toward Cyprus. One vessel is still off the coast of Egypt, and one vessel, Mikeno, is now in Gaza’s territorial waters and is reportedly a few miles from land.
This comes as Palestine’s foreign ministry has condemned Israel’s “attack and aggression”, and said it is “gravely concerned” about the safety of the activists on board.
“The State of Palestine recalls that the Global Sumud Flotilla is a peaceful and civilian-led initiative aimed at breaking Israel’s inhumane and illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip and put an end to Israel’s starvation policy and genocide, in accordance with international law,” the ministry said.
The British government is “very concerned” about Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, as the Foreign Office confirms British citizens are known to be on board.
“We are very concerned about the situation with the Sumud flotilla, we are in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved,” the Foreign Office says.
“The aid carried by the flotilla should be turned over to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered safely into Gaza.”
A number of the boats in the flotilla were intercepted by Israeli naval forces, with some vessels still believed to be headed towards Gaza’s territorial waters.
In a statement, the flotilla organisers branded the interceptions as “illegal” since they were traversing international waters. “Beyond the confirmed interceptions, live streams and communications with several other vessels have been lost,” the statement added.
The detained activists who were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, including Greta Thunberg, are expected to arrive at Israel’s Ashdod port in about two hours – according to Al Jazeera.
The outlet understands that while this timeframe is an estimate, it is expected to be staggered across the whole day as not all the detained activists will be arriving at once.
Overnight, from late on 1 October to the early hours of 2 October, Israeli forces stopped at least a dozen boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza. Thunberg was seen earlier sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers in a video from the Israeli foreign ministry verified by Reuters. The Swedish activist is the most prominent of the pro-Palestinian flotilla’s passengers, while others include Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela.
Earlier today Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that all detained flotilla passengers are “making their way safely and peacefully to Israel”, where their deportation process back to Europe will begin.
As these activists are being taken to Israel, the naval forces continues to try to intercept the rest of the boats of the flotilla. There is now no communication with the remaining boats as the closer they get to Israeli ships, the more likely it is their communication methods would have been intercepted or jammed.
In a statement, the flotilla organisers branded the interceptions as “illegal” since they were traversing international waters. “Beyond the confirmed interceptions, live streams and communications with several other vessels have been lost,” the statement added.
Nine Irish citizens, including Sinn Féin senator, among those detained by Israeli forces
Lisa O’Carroll
Nine Irish citizens, including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews, were among those detained by Israeli forces. It is believed there are 20 Irish citizens on the flotilla in total.
Irish deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris convene a meeting of senior officials this morning to discuss the evolving situation.
In a statement the department for foreign affairs said: “The overriding concern remains the welfare of those on board, including Irish citizens. Our latest understanding is that passengers will be transferred to an Israeli port for processing and that Ireland’s embassy on the ground will liaise with local authorities and provide consular assistance.”
Last night Harris said “This is a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe. Ireland expects international law to be upheld and all those on board the flotilla to be treated in strict accordance with it.”
Demonstrators gather in cities across the world in support of Global Sumud Flotilla, rallying in solidarity with the fleet attempting to breach the maritime blockade of Gaza.
The pro-Palestinian flotilla consists of more than 40 civilian boats and is attempting to bring symbolic humanitarian aid to the war-torn territory.
Sam Jones
Spain’s labour minister and deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, described the attack on the flotilla as “a crime against international law” and demanded that Israel immediately release those it had detained.
Writing on Bluesky, she added: “The EU needs to break off relations with Israel right now.”
Spain’s foreign ministry issued a statement late on Wednesday night, pointing out that the flotilla was a “a peaceful and humanitarian civil society initiative” and calling for the “physical integrity and rights” of the Spanish citizens aboard the flotilla to be respected. The statement concluded: “Spain will continue to demand an end to the war in Gaza, the massive entry of humanitarian aid, the release of all Israeli hostages, and the implementation of the two-state solution: Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security.”
Pakistan has condemned Israel’s interception of dozens of flotilla vessels, calling it a “dastardly attack”.
Writing on X, Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif sad they hope and pray for the safety of all those who “have been illegally apprehended by Israeli forces”, and calls for their immediate release.
“Their crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people,” the post said. “This barbarity must end. Peace must be given a chance and humanitarian aid must reach those in need.”
The Israeli foreign ministry said it will deport all activists that were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla. It said they are now making their way to Israel, where deportation procedures will take place.
“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.
Israeli naval forces have stopped 14 flotilla vessels carrying aid to Gaza, however 23 boats are continuing to sail onwards.
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
Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and former spokesperson of the Palestinian delegation to the 1991 Madrid peace conference, condemns Israel’s interception of the flotilla aid vessels.
She described it as “criminal act of piracy” in international waters, according to The Independent. She praised the work of the activists on board the vessels, and called them “brave” for challenging the Israeli offensive.
“They’re putting their lives on the line by actively intervening [and] demonstrating the real meaning of solidarity [and] human empathy,” she added.
Flotilla vessel reportedly enters Gaza’s territorial waters
Lorenzo Tondo
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla live tracker, one vessel, Mikeno, is now in Gaza’s territorial waters.
This comes as Israeli naval forces continue to intercept vessels, but there are several nearing Gaza’s territorial waters. The number of operational ships is now at 24.
It is the first time since Israel imposed a naval blockade on Gaza’s waters in 2009 that an unauthorised humanitarian mission has pushed beyond 70 nautical miles from the territory.
In 2010, a Turkish-led boat reached roughly 70 to 80 miles off the coast, leading to a deadly confrontation in which 10 Turkish activists were killed by Israeli commandos
The Mikeno ship, which had lost its signal, appeared inside Gaza’s territorial waters about 9.3 miles from Gaza pic.twitter.com/jC0wT7GUkr
— Global Sumud Flotilla Commentary (@GlobalSumudF) October 2, 2025
Summary
It has turned 9am in Gaza City and Tel Aviv and here’s a recap of the overnight news on Israel’s interception of the aid flotilla approaching Gaza’s coast.
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Israeli forces stopped at least a dozen boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza but 30 boats were continuing to sail towards the Palestinian territory, organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said on Thursday.
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Flotilla boats were about 70 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast when they were intercepted overnight but organisers remained defiant, saying the flotilla “will continue undeterred”. Thirty boats were still sailing towards Gaza, they posted on Telegram early on Thursday, and were 46 nautical miles away from their destination. A total of 15 boats had been intercepted or stopped as of early Thursday, according to the flotilla’s ship tracking data.
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Greta Thunberg was seen earlier sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers in a video from the Israeli foreign ministry verified by Reuters. The Swedish climate campaigner is the most prominent of the pro-Palestinian flotilla’s passengers, while others include Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela. The aid flotilla consists of more than 40 civilian boats with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.
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The Israeli foreign ministry said on X: “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.”
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The flotilla put out videos on Telegram with messages from individuals aboard, some holding their passports and saying they had been abducted and taken to Israel against their will, and reiterating their mission was a non-violent humanitarian cause.
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The flotilla’s organisers denounced what it called Israel’s “illegal” raid as a “war crime”, saying the military used aggressive tactics, including water cannon, but that no one was harmed. The organisers said their communications had been scrambled, including the use of a live camera feed from some of the boats.
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Israel repeatedly warned the flotilla to turn back, saying it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful blockade. It offered to transfer any aid peacefully through safe channels to Gaza. Israeli officials repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt.
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Turkey’s foreign ministry said the Israeli “attack” on the flotilla was “an act of terror” that endangered the lives of innocent civilians. Spontaneous protests broke out across Italy in response to the raid. Protests were also reported in Brussel, Athens, Buenos Aires and Berlin, while the Spanish government called on Israel to protect the safety and rights of activists.
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Turkey said steps had begun for Israel to release Turks and others onboard, while Spain called on Israel to protect the safety and rights of activists and Ireland said the flotilla was “a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe”.
With agencies
Brazil has condemned Israel’s action against the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had several Brazilian nationals onboard, including a legislator.
Brazil “deplores the Israeli government’s military action, which violates rights and endangers the physical wellbeing of peaceful protesters”, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The responsibility for the safety of those detained now rests with Israel.
Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira earlier said his government had communicated “directly” to Israel its concern for the 15 Brazilians taking part in the flotilla, who include deputy Luizianne Lins, Agence France-Press reports.
Brasilia is one of many governments worldwide that have called on Israel to remove restrictions on humanitarian aid allowed to enter Gaza.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has repeatedly denounced what he calls an Israeli “genocide” against Palestinians in the war – a claim Israel denies.
Israeli fire kills at at least 46 across Gaza, say authorities
Across Gaza, Israeli forces killed at least 46 people, including 36 in Gaza City, Gaza’s civil defence agency said on Wednesday.
Those included at least seven people – first responders among them – who were killed when two Israeli strikes minutes apart hit a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, according to Al-Ahli hospital, where the casualties were taken. Officials there said more than three dozen people were wounded.
Five Palestinians were killed later in a strike on people gathered around a drinking water tank elsewhere in Gaza City, the hospital said.
The AP also reports that strikes in central Gaza killed another eight people, according to Al-Awda hospital.
Another strike hit a tent in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah, seriously wounding two people, according to hospital officials.
Earlier on Wednesday at the same hospital, dozens of people attended a funeral service for a Palestinian freelance journalist, Yahya Barzaq. He was killed on Tuesday along with five other people in an airstrike while working for Turkish broadcast outlet TRT.
More than 189 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the outbreak of the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Israel’s warning to Gaza City residents came as Hamas weighed a new proposal from US president Donald Trump aimed at ending the war and returning the remaining hostages held in Gaza.
A senior official from the Palestinian militant said there were some points in the proposal that were unacceptable and must be amended, without elaborating, the Associated Press reported.
The official said the official response would come only after consultations with other Palestinian factions.
The Israeli government has ordered all remaining Palestinians to leave Gaza City.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said it was their “last opportunity” and that anyone who stayed would be considered a militant supporter and face the “full force” of Israel’s latest offensive.
About 400,000 Palestinians have fled famine-stricken Gaza City since Israel launched a major offensive last month aimed at occupying it. But as the Associated Press reports, hundreds of thousands remain, many because they cannot afford to leave or are too weak to make the journey to tent camps in the south.
Katz posted on X on Wednesday:
This is the last opportunity for Gaza residents who wish to do so to move south. Those who remain in Gaza will be (considered) terrorists and terror supporters.
The road south was packed as Palestinians fled, with hastily loaded trucks and cars driving alongside people on foot carrying their belongings.
“We left barefoot,” said Hussein al-Del. The Israelis “were striking at random, with no mercy for anyone”.
We left behind our food, our furniture, blankets, and everything. We left only with our souls.
The Global Samud flotilla has just given an update on the dozens of vessels that set out to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. It said 15 boats had been confirmed as intercepted, with a further eight “likely to be or currently being intercepted”.
The rest are still working their way towards the coastline. You can see their progress on the tracker here.
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