Israeli authorities have begun detaining hundreds of activists after intercepting the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, with the first group of detainees arriving at the southern port of Ashdod on Wednesday, according to officials and a rights group. The incident marks the latest escalation in repeated attempts by activists to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza.

The flotilla, which reportedly included around 430 activists, set sail from Turkey last week with the stated aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. Organisers said the convoy consisted of nearly 50 vessels carrying international participants, including activists, journalists and aid supporters, in what they described as a peaceful mission to highlight the humanitarian situation in the territory.

Israeli authorities confirmed that the vessels were intercepted at sea and redirected to Ashdod, where detainees were being processed and prepared for consular access. A spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed the mission as a “PR stunt,” alleging it was aligned with the interests of the Palestinian group Hamas, which Israel has been at war with since October 2023.

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Human rights organisation Adalah condemned the interception, saying participants were taken from international waters and brought to Israel against their will. The group argued that the activists were civilian participants on a humanitarian mission and described the detention as an extension of policies it says contribute to collective punishment in Gaza.

The Israeli government, however, defended the operation, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously calling the flotilla a “malicious scheme” aimed at breaching the blockade on Gaza. Israeli officials said all detainees would be able to meet consular representatives and that procedures were being carried out in accordance with security protocols.

International reactions have begun to emerge, with Indonesia confirming that nine of its citizens were detained and calling for their immediate release. Reports also indicated that participants included citizens from multiple countries, including Ireland and Turkey, prompting diplomatic responses from several governments concerned about the interception in international waters.

The flotilla attempt comes amid ongoing restrictions on Gaza, where Israel has maintained a blockade since 2007. The territory has faced severe shortages of essential supplies during the ongoing conflict that began after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, with aid access remaining a major point of international dispute. Previous flotilla attempts have also been intercepted, with participants detained and later deported.

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