The Israeli army on Monday attacked and intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla in international waters, detaining 100 activists, as the mission sailed in an attempt to break a choking blockade on the Palestinian enclave.
Qatar has condemned the Israeli occupation’s renewed attack on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters on Monday.
In a statement on Monday, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called it a blatant violation of international law, humanitarian values and maritime security, and condemned Israel’s continuation of the siege on Gaza.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that the ongoing crimes of the Israeli occupation against the defenseless Palestinian people, including the intimidation of those who stand in solidarity with their legitimate rights, will exacerbate the tragic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza Strip,” the statement read.
The Israeli forces on Monday intercepted and attacked the Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla in international waters, detaining 100 activists, as the mission sailed in an attempt to break a choking blockade on the Palestinian enclave.
The flotilla’s boats were carrying humanitarian and relief aid, including baby formula, and had peaceful activists on board.
The flotilla, consisting of more than 50 boats, set sail on Thursday from the Turkish Mediterranean district of Marmaris in a renewed attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since the summer of 2007.
Live broadcasts from the flotilla showed Israeli naval forces attacking and boarding the boats one after another.
“Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IOF forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight” Global Sumud Flotilla said on its X account.
The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that army forces detained activists aboard the vessels and were transferring them to a navy ship described as a “floating prison” before transporting them to the port of Ashdod in southern Israel.
Video footage shared by organizers showed activists filming as Israeli forces approached and boarded the boats.
The aid mission earlier said it would continue its voyage to Gaza despite the Israeli threat of attack.
The flotilla said the mission included 426 participants, including 96 Turkish activists and participants from 39 other countries, among them Germany, US, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco, France, South Africa, UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, Oman and New Zealand.
Israeli forces carried out a similar operation in August 2025 against another global flotilla carrying more than 500 activists from over 44 countries aboard more than 40 boats headed to Gaza.
Despite a ceasefire in place since last October, Israel has refused to allow the agreed quantities of humanitarian supplies into the enclave, where about 2.4 million Palestinians, including 1.5 million displaced, face severe humanitarian conditions.
In its condemnation, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised the need for the international community to stand firmly in solidarity to compel the occupation to open the crossings, remove the illegal restrictions on the flow of aid, provide the necessary protection for the Palestinian people, and release the activists it arrested after seizing the flotilla immediately and unconditionally.
