This report reflects developments as of the evening of Monday, 18 May 2026.
Israeli forces intercepted 39 vessels from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in the eastern Mediterranean on Monday, as Turkey condemned the intervention as a “new act of piracy” and demanded the safe return of its nationals on board.
The Global Sumud Flotilla — a 54-vessel convoy carrying 426 participants from 39 countries — had set sail from southern Turkey on Thursday for a third attempt to deliver aid to Gaza after earlier missions were intercepted by Israel. Live video showed military vessels approaching the flotilla’s boats on Monday, with Israeli forces boarding the first vessel.
“Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight,” the flotilla said on X. “We demand safe passage for our legal, non-violent humanitarian mission.” The group said the remaining ships were continuing to sail toward Gaza.
Israel’s foreign ministry said it “will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza” and called on “all participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately.”
The flotilla named 44 Turkish nationals among those on the intercepted vessels, which were seized approximately 463 kilometres from Gaza. Turkey’s foreign ministry said Ankara was coordinating with other countries to secure their safe return. President Tayyip Erdogan, speaking in Ankara, condemned the intervention against what he called the “voyagers of hope” and called on the international community to act against Israel’s actions.
A Turkish activist aboard the L’Arq vessel, which had not yet been intercepted and was around 215 nautical miles from Gaza, said he expected Israeli forces to board his boat as it neared the enclave. “We don’t know where they are, we don’t know how many of them were actually taken,” said Ahmet Soylemez.
THIRD ATTEMPT INTERCEPTED
The previous flotilla departed Spain on 12 April but was also intercepted by Israeli forces, with more than 100 activists taken to Crete and two others detained in Israel. Last October, Israel halted another flotilla assembled by the same organisation, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 participants.
Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies from its population and says more than 1.58 million metric tonnes of humanitarian aid and thousands of tonnes of medical supplies have entered Gaza since October 2025. Palestinians, international aid bodies, Turkey and a number of other countries say supplies remain insufficient despite a ceasefire reached in October that included guarantees of increased aid deliveries.
Most of Gaza’s more than two million people have been displaced, many living in bombed-out buildings, makeshift tents or the ruins of destroyed homes.
(Reuters)
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