Israel Intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla, Detaining Hundreds

01 Oct, 2025

By Eli Sachs

In 2010, a flotilla of six ships organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish IHH sought to break the blockade and deliver aid to Gaza. Israeli commandos boarded the largest ship, the MV Mavi Marmara in international waters and initiated fire, killing eight Turkish nationals and one Turkish-American.

Human Rights Watch and the International Committee of the Red Cross, along with countless legal experts, have determined that the blockade constitutes unlawful collective punishment and violates the Geneva Conventions, along with other international law principles.

“As the occupying power, Israel remains bound to provide residents of Gaza the rights and protections afforded to them by the law of occupation … These restrictions on the right to freedom of movement do not meet the requirement of being strictly necessary and proportionate to achieve a lawful objective. Israel has had years and many opportunities to develop more narrowly tailored responses to security threats that minimize restrictions on rights.” (Human Rights Watch 2023, para. 20)

“The blockading power must allow for free passage of foodstuffs and other essential objects if the civilian population of the blockaded territory is inadequately provided with food and other objects essential to its survival." (United Nations 2011, para. 35, “The Legal Requirements of a Blockade”)

In August 2025, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis declared famine conditions in Gaza Governorate, including Gaza City, and projected its rapid spread to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. Over 640,000 people are classified as facing “catastrophic” hunger (IPC Phase 5), while an additional 1.14 million are in “emergency” (IPC Phase 4) and 396,000 are in “crisis” (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity. Widespread starvation, malnutrition, and preventable deaths have been reported, especially among children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Acute malnutrition has led to thousands of hospitalizations and at least 16 confirmed child deaths due to hunger by mid-2025, with overall malnutrition-related deaths exceeding 70 since July alone.

Israel has total control of all food entering into Gaza. And according to internal documents leaked by the Guardian, they have calculated how many calories Palestinians need to stay alive.

The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger. (Dov Weisglass, advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister, 2006)

The Global Sumud Flotilla was the largest flotilla to attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade to date. Today, Israeli naval forces boarded over 39 out of the over 40 boats making up the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, detaining more than 500 activists from over 44 countries (including Greta Thunberg), violating international law. As per the UN, the blockade was required to allow humanitarian aid missions to pass.

The IDF claims the interception was justified by Israel within the context of an officially declared blockade during an armed conflict, arguing that it is consistent with maritime law. The IDF and Israeli government maintain that all restrictions and interceptions are intended to prevent escalation, minimize military risk, and ultimately force the release of hostages and an end to attacks against Israel.

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Updated 18 hours, 2 minutes ago to correct a misattributed quote and to update a citation.

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