Spain, Italy Escort Flotilla Intercepted Near Gaza

The Global Sumud Flotilla — about 45–50 boats carrying roughly 500 activists and a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, including Greta Thunberg and Mandla Mandela — sailed from Spain seeking to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. As the fleet moved into international waters off Egypt within roughly 110–220 km of Gaza, Spain and Italy deployed naval escorts and urged the vessels not to cross Israel’s declared 150-nautical-mile exclusion zone. Activists said more than 20 suspected Israeli vessels surrounded the flotilla, aggressively circling boats such as the Alma and Sirius, cutting communications and cameras, and boarding some vessels amid increased drone activity. Israel said it had repeatedly warned the flotilla to turn back to enforce the blockade. Organisers declared a state of emergency, described the actions as intimidation, and vowed to continue toward Gaza while calling on governments — including Irish leaders — to intervene to ensure participants’ safety.