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Israeli naval forces intercepted, boarded, and disabled multiple vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete late Wednesday. These actions jammed communications and cut contact with 11 ships, leaving hundreds of civilians stranded at sea as a storm approached.
The action prompted Türkiye to call it "an act of piracy," as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albares, by phone to demand "a unified international stance against the unlawful intervention."
The Global Sumud Flotilla issued a formal statement Thursday morning.
"Israeli forces intercepted, boarded, and systematically disabled multiple boats. After smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays, the military retreated, intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm," the group said.
"Communications with multiple vessels have been jammed, severing their ability to coordinate or signal for help. Tonight, the world is witnessing the export of the Israeli military's doctrine of engineered abandonment," it added.
The Israeli Army Radio confirmed that naval forces had seized seven flotilla vessels near Crete, with interception operations beginning late Wednesday.
Earlier, the flotilla reported that Israeli military speedboats had surrounded ships in international waters, with personnel "pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a formal statement calling the interception "an act of piracy," saying Israel had "targeted humanitarian values and international law" by attacking a flotilla seeking to draw attention to Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe.
"Israel's aggression also violates the principle of freedom of navigation in international waters. We call on the international community to take a united stance against this lawless act by Israel," the ministry said.
It confirmed that all necessary steps were being taken in coordination with relevant countries regarding Turkish citizens and other passengers aboard.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli confirmed that Fidan and Albares had spoken by phone Thursday morning, emphasizing that "the illegal intervention by Israeli forces against the Global Sumud Flotilla, sailing in international waters off Crete, endangered the lives of numerous civilians of various nationalities and violated international law."
Both ministers stressed the need for "the international community to adopt a unified stance against the unlawful intervention."
The Global Sumud Flotilla's 2026 Spring Mission departed Barcelona on April 12, picking up participants in Sicily before re-entering the Mediterranean on April 26 with more than 60 boats carrying 345 participants from 39 countries, including Turkish citizens.
The flotilla aimed to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and open a humanitarian sea corridor.
A previous flotilla mission in September 2025 was similarly intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, with activists and vessels detained.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007.
Approximately 1.5 million of Gaza's 2.4 million residents have been displaced after their homes were destroyed during the war.
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