Gaza: According to the Global Resilience Flotilla initiative, Israeli occupation forces seized the aid ships hundreds of miles from Gaza, near the Greek island of Crete, despite the vessels carrying humanitarian supplies intended for Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

In a statement, the initiative described the interception as “an illegal detention of human beings at sea,” adding that the incident highlights Israel’s ability to act “with complete impunity” in international waters without consequences.

The latest development follows the departure of a second flotilla from Barcelona, Spain, on April 12, aimed at breaking the longstanding blockade on Gaza and delivering critical aid to its population.

This is not the first such interception. In October, Israeli forces stopped a similar flotilla organized by the same group attempting to reach Gaza, detaining more than 450 participants, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Israel maintains control over all access points to the Gaza Strip, where more than two million residents rely heavily on external aid. While a ceasefire agreement reached in October included provisions to increase humanitarian assistance, Palestinians and international aid agencies continue to report that the supplies entering Gaza remain insufficient to meet urgent needs.