On April 30, 2026, Israeli naval forces intercepted 22 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters northwest of Crete, more than 1,000 kilometers from Gaza. The 58-boat fleet sailed from Barcelona with around 175 activists from dozens of countries. Israel disabled engines and communications to avert escalation, offered to route any real supplies through Ashdod for inspection, and released most participants to Greek authorities within 24 hours. Only two steering committee members faced transfer to Israel for questioning: Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila.
This operation exposed the mission as theater. Israeli officials released footage showing that the humanitarian cargo consisted mainly of preservatives and drugs. These items offered zero relief for Gaza’s genuine needs.
