Daijiworld Media Network - Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Oct 2: The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that none of the vessels from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla have managed to breach Israel’s longstanding naval blockade or enter what it calls an “active combat zone.”

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Ministry declared the flotilla’s mission a failure and described it as a “Hamas-Sumud provocation.” It asserted that the operation had no humanitarian intent and was orchestrated primarily for political disruption. "None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade," the post read.

The Ministry confirmed that all passengers aboard the detained vessels are safe and in good health and are being transported to Israel before being deported to Europe. A final vessel from the flotilla remains at a distance, and Israeli authorities have vowed to block it if it approaches.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of around 50 civilian vessels with activists from over 40 countries, set out to deliver food and medical supplies to Palestinians in Gaza and challenge Israel’s blockade, which has been in place since 2007.

Among those reportedly on board was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, whose presence drew significant international attention. Israeli officials claimed she and other passengers were detained “safely and respectfully” and would be processed before deportation.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry maintained that the flotilla was not a genuine humanitarian mission but a “deliberate provocation,” allegedly backed by Hamas. It claimed that flotilla organisers had rejected offers from Israel, Italy, Greece, and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to deliver aid via established humanitarian channels.

“Israel informed the flotilla it was approaching a combat zone and violating international maritime law by attempting to breach a legal blockade,” the Ministry stated. “Despite multiple offers to transfer aid peacefully, the flotilla refused—proving their aim is provocation, not support.”

The Israeli government further alleged that Hamas documents recently recovered in Gaza show direct coordination and funding between the militant group and flotilla organisers. It released translated excerpts and images purportedly linking key organisers to senior Hamas figures.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is the latest in a series of attempts by international activists to sail humanitarian aid directly to Gaza, a tactic Israel views as a security threat. While flotilla participants frame their mission as a peaceful challenge to what they describe as an unjust blockade, Israel insists the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons and materials from reaching Hamas.