The first and only time the siege on Gaza was broken when two small wooden boats, the Free Gaza and the Liberty, sailed to Gaza from Cyprus, carrying 44 international solidarity activists and medical supplies. Aviv Shiron from the Israeli foreign ministry said at the time that the government wanted to avoid a PR disaster, “according to report by Red Flag".
The first and only time the siege on Gaza was successfully broken was when two small wooden boats—the Free Gaza and the Liberty—sailed from Cyprus to Gaza carrying 44 international solidarity activists and medical supplies. At the time, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aviv Shiron said the government wanted to avoid a public relations disaster, according to a report by Red Flag.
Three days ago, the Israeli navy blocked boats traveling with the Global Sumud Flotilla, using drones, communications‑jamming technology, and armed raiding parties to halt the humanitarian fleet in the middle of the Mediterranean as it headed toward Gaza. According to the organization’s Flotilla Tracker map and Israeli media, 22 boats have been intercepted by the Israeli military, while 36 are still sailing toward Gaza.
For nearly 20 years, Israel has enforced a land, air, and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip after Hamas won the Palestinian election in 2007. Since then, most supplies have been prevented from entering the territory, contributing to widespread starvation.
This is not the first time Israel has used force to stop activists attempting to break the siege. In 2010, Israeli commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara, a ship carrying humanitarian aid from Turkey to Gaza, killing nine activists on board.
Red Flag reported that the only time the siege was broken was when the Free Gaza and the Liberty reached Gaza from Cyprus. Shiron stated at the time that Israel wanted to avoid a provocation at sea, so the boats were allowed through (Red Flag, June 16, 2025).
It is worth noting here that for nearly two decades, Israel has maintained a devastating blockade on Gaza. It is for this reason, according to Palestinian resistance groups, that the Al‑Aqsa Flood Operation was launched on October 7, 2023, in an attempt to break what they describe as an illegal and inhumane siege.
On April 29, 2026, while the vessels were off the coast of Crete—1,620 miles (2,607 kilometers) from Palestinian territory—“Israeli forces approached in military speedboats, identified themselves as Israelis, pointed lasers and semiautomatic weapons, and ordered participants to the front of the boats and onto their hands and knees.” According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, 175 peace activists were taken into custody. Later, 173 were transferred to Greece, three were hospitalized with injuries, and two flotilla organizers—one Spanish and one Brazilian—were taken to Israel, where they are reportedly being subjected to torture along with thousands of Palestinian detainees.
International Condemnation and Human Rights Concerns
Human rights organizations and political leaders have condemned the interception. Amnesty International labeled it a “brazen and unlawful” act, and Spain’s prime minister called it a violation of international law. Activists reported inhumane treatment, including beatings, rubber‑bullet fire, and deliberate flooding of ship floors. Israeli forces also confiscated all personal belongings, including money, cell phones, tablets, cameras, and other valuables. Spain and Brazil have demanded the immediate release of their nationals still held in Israel.
Some commentators argue that if Spain and Brazil are serious about securing the release of their citizens, they should issue a firm ultimatum to Israel, including the expulsion of its ambassador and the closure of their embassies if their nationals are not freed within 24 hours. They argue that pressure and boycott are the only measures Israel responds to.
Responding to reports that Israeli forces intercepted 22 vessels and detained 175 crew members attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, Amnesty International issued the following statement:
Two Global Sumud Flotilla Activists Taken to Israel
(R-L) Sumud leaders Saif Abu Kesheck of Spain and Thiago Ávila of Brazil were kidnapped by Israeli pirates in international water,
were taken to Israel and being subjected to torture in along with thousands of Palestinian held hostages. Photo credit: vozpopuli.com
• Saif Abu Keshek — A Palestinian‑Spanish citizen and a leader in solidarity campaigns for Gaza. He has organized international efforts against the blockade and serves on the steering committee of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
• Thiago Ávila — A Brazilian activist who has spent more than 20 years supporting the Palestinian cause. He has coordinated multiple flotilla missions, including the 2025 Madleen vessel, which was also intercepted.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg stated that the two activists from the “Fleet of Resilience” are being subjected to torture in Israel along with thousands of Palestinian prisoners, and she demanded their immediate release.
https://x.com/AJArabic/status/2050633377565290807?s=20
Mahmoud El‑Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes on U.S. foreign policy, Middle East affairs, and justice. Email: elyousseph6@yahoo.com