Netanyahu: Activists will continue watching Gaza on YouTube

Detained Gaza-bound flotilla members will be transferred to Greece, Sa’ar says

Foreign Ministry says IDF acted early against Global Sumud Flotilla because it tried to block an Israeli merchant ship; European nations slam pre-dawn seizure near Crete

Participants from a Gaza-bound, anti-Israel flotilla intercepted by Israel off the coast of Greece were being transferred to Israeli custody on Thursday, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced.

The statement came as European nations slammed Israel’s pre-dawn interception of at least 21 of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s 58 boats near Crete, over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from Israel — much farther than previous interceptions of Gaza-bound flotillas.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Israel acted after the flotilla “actively attempted to block an Israeli merchant vessel.”

“This is why Israel acted early, peacefully, in accordance with international law, and with the aim of ensuring the safety and security of all those on board – and it will continue to do so,” said the ministry.

Israel says some 175 activists were detained, while a spokesperson for the flotilla later put the figure at 211.

Writing on X, Sa’ar said “all participants in the provocative flotilla who were taken off the vessels were taken off unharmed” following their bid “to breach the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.”

“In coordination with the Greek government, the individuals transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be disembarked on a Greek beach in the coming hours,” he said, thanking the Greek government “for its willingness to receive the flotilla participants.”

“We call on anyone who is not interested in provocations but rather in humanitarian aid to Gaza to do so through the BOP, which also issued a statement on the matter today,” Sa’ar said, referring to the US-led Board of Peace that is tasked with overseeing the post-war management of Gaza.

The activists aboard the flotilla departed from Spain earlier this month, after organizing a similar operation last year with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and hundreds more participants that was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday hailed the Israeli Navy for “completely successfully” carrying out the interception.

“Not one ship or Hamas supporter arrived in our territory, not even in our maritime territory,” said Netanyahu. “They have been turned back and will return to their countries of origin. They will continue to watch Gaza on YouTube.”

In its own statement, the Board of Peace dismissed the Sumud flotilla as “love-boat activism” — an apparent riff on Israel’s claim that the supplies carried by the flotilla comprised mainly condoms and drugs.

“Since the ceasefire last October, the Board of Peace has SIGNIFICANTLY scaled up support for the people of Gaza,” said the board, which US President Donald Trump inaugurated in January as part of the Gaza peace plan that he announced in September.

The board claimed its work in Gaza has tripled the number of people receiving food aid while “Hamas’ theft of aid has dwindled from 90% to less than 1%.” The board added that it was now working “to accelerate aid and rebirth” in Gaza by disarming Hamas and ushering in a new government.

The Sumud flotilla, by contrast, was “performative love-boat activism of people who know nothing of and care even less for the condition of Gazans,” said the board, which includes no Palestinian members. “It is distasteful to trade on the misery of people to build your social media profiles.”

The board suggested that “those actually wanting to help Gaza” should pressure Hamas to “fulfill their obligations” and contribute aid “through established humanitarian channels coordinated by the Board of Peace, the United Nations, and the World Bank, so that your contributions reach those who deserve and need our aid.”

Meanwhile, Spain’s Foreign Ministry said it “energetically condemns” Israel’s seizure of the flotilla and has summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires in Spain to protest the incident.

Spanish diplomatic staff in Israel are in contact with the organizers of the flotilla and Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has spoken with his counterparts who also have nationals on board, the statement said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office also condemned Israel’s seizure of the flotilla, and demanded the immediate release of all Italians who have been “unlawfully detained.”

Italian news agency Ansa said 24 Italians were detained aboard the flotilla, and footage from Rome showed Italians protesting against Israel over the flotilla’s interception.

Separately, Germany and Italy’s foreign ministries issued a joint statement saying they were following developments with “deep concern.”

The joint statement, which did not mention Israel by name, called for “full respect of international law” and avoidance of “irresponsible actions,” adding that the two countries were committed to guaranteeing the safety of their citizens.

Paris announced 15 French nationals. According to flotilla organizers, those included Paris Communist local councillor Raphaelle Primet.

Israel has intercepted several activist flotillas that sought to break Gaza’s naval blockade and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis rocking the Strip since the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza.

Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since the Hamas terror group seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007 in a violent coup.

Israel has said it was necessary to impose a blockade on Gaza to prevent Hamas from smuggling in weapons.