Israeli navy intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters

“This is the Israeli Navy. If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, do so through the established channels,” a voice declared.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli naval forces began taking control of a large flotilla bound for Gaza on Wednesday, intercepting the vessels hundreds of kilometers from Israel’s coast, according to Israeli officials.

A senior Israeli source confirmed the navy initiated the operation in international waters near Crete, marking one of the farthest such actions to date since the start of the war.

Organizers of the flotilla, which reportedly includes around 100 vessels and some 1,000 activists, said multiple Israeli military boats approached at high speed, identified themselves, and ordered participants to move to the front of the ships and raise their hands.

“They pointed lasers and weapons at us,” organizers said in a statement, adding that communications systems aboard the vessels were being disrupted.

An audio recording circulating from the scene captures what appears to be Israeli naval personnel issuing instructions over the radio: “This is the Israeli Navy. If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, do so through the established channels.”

Israeli officials said the interception was carried out far from Israel’s coastline due to the flotilla’s scale, with around 100 vessels and roughly 1,000 participants involved. “This time we chose to surprise them at a significant distance,” one official said.

The operation marks the third such naval interception since the start of the war and the most distant so far, aimed at preventing the flotilla from reaching the Gaza Strip.