Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.
Maduro: In the face of threats, Trinidad and Tobago agreed to suspend all effects of the energy agreement and everything that had been agreed upon in that regard.
Maduro: It’s time to make a choice, either stand with the warmongers who want death and violence, or stand with life.
Maduro: They want our wealth. This is not about drug trafficking, and they know it.
Maduro: Everyone in the world knows that what the economic elite ruling the United States seeks today is Venezuela’s oil, gas, and gold.
Maduro: The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago is complicit and promoting war due to her personal, physical, mental, and moral weaknesses.
President Nicolás Maduro: A series of arrests have been carried out against what could be a group of mercenaries trained and funded by the CIA.

Gaza aid flotilla defies Israeli raids, remaining vessels press ahead

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 2 Oct 2025 09:23
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

Footage of Israeli occupation forces raiding boats with activists onboard has sparked global outrage and protests as the flotilla presses on.

Listen
  • x
  • Gaza aid flotilla defies Israeli raids, 30 vessels press ahead
    This image taken from video released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry shows activist Greta Thunberg, right, as she is detained after the Israeli Navy raided the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid toward Gaza on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP)

Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla have pledged to press ahead with their mission to deliver aid to Gaza, despite Israeli occupation forces storming and abducting several vessels in the Mediterranean.

By early Thursday, at least 13 boats had been raided or forced to stop, according to flotilla tracking data. But in a statement, organizers insisted the campaign “will continue undeterred.”

Footage circulating on social media shows the Israeli occupation navy vessels intercepting the #GlobalSumudFlotilla boats.#GazaGenocide #Palestine pic.twitter.com/FxAwrIDask

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 1, 2025

Posting on Telegram, the flotilla said that 30 boats carrying activists, parliamentarians, and supplies remained on course, just 46 nautical miles from Gaza. The convoy, comprising more than 40 civilian vessels and some 500 passengers, is one of the largest efforts in years to break "Israel’s" blockade of the Palestinian territory.

Carrying food and medicine, the mission has become a high-profile symbol of international opposition to the siege.

Wider context 

On Wednesday, Israeli naval forces raided several of the flotilla’s boats, forcibly taking them and those on board to an Israeli port. The operation drew global attention after footage emerged of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg sitting on a deck surrounded by armed Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the interception, posting on X: “Several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy.”

Related News

Gaza truce breaches persist as Israeli forces destroy homes, block aid

41 aid groups slam Israeli blocking of aid shipments to Gaza

Flotilla organizers condemned the Israeli raid, calling it “illegal” and a “war crime". They stressed that water cannons and other aggressive tactics were used. No injuries were reported so far.

Passengers shared videos on Telegram, holding up passports and declaring they had been “abducted” and taken to "Israel" against their will. They reiterated the mission’s non-violent, humanitarian character.

Organizers also emphasized that their communications had been disrupted, including live video feeds from some boats.

The flotilla reported that at least three vessels, Spectre, Alma, and Sirius, had been boarded in international waters. The fate of their passengers remained unclear late Wednesday.

International reaction

The raid drew swift condemnation abroad. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry described the interception as “an act of terror” that endangered civilians. Ankara said it had begun steps to secure the release of Turkish nationals and others detained.

In a video circulating online, #ThiagoAvila, a member of the #GlobalSumudFlotilla, is heard as he confronts the Israeli occupation naval forces, invoking international law and demanding they not commit another war crime against a peaceful humanitarian mission to #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/osHfYYk9uG

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 1, 2025

Spain urged "Israel" to guarantee the safety and rights of those on board, while Ireland called the flotilla “a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe.”

Spontaneous protests erupted across Italy after news of the raid spread.

Newly released footage by a British journalist travelling with the flotilla captured the moment the vessel Adara was abducted.

In the recording, a voice is heard describing water being sprayed at the boat, a bright light shining on the deck, and the vessel being encircled by a “large vehicle". Commands shouted in Hebrew can be heard before soldiers boarded. The journalist reported, “They’re saying if we follow their rules, nothing will happen to us. Put your hands up.”

Despite the raids, flotilla organizers repeated on Thursday that their mission remained on course. With 30 boats still sailing, they vowed the protest would continue until it reached Gaza.

  • Humanitarian aid
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • Freedom Flotilla
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bn defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tightens El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS