The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have commenced an operation to intercept vessels participating in the "Global Sumud Flotilla" as they move toward the Gaza Strip.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing the Ynet news portal, that the interception is currently underway in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the report, the operation is being conducted hundreds of kilometers from the Israeli coast, specifically near the western part of the island of Crete, approximately 1,000 kilometers from the Gazan shoreline. Sources indicate that the interception is proceeding without any recorded emergency incidents or violence. The Israeli side took this step due to the significant scale of the flotilla, which reportedly consists of approximately 100 vessels and involves nearly 1,000 activists.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the imposition of sanctions against individuals who began fundraising for the "Global Sumud Flotilla – Second Mission." The Israeli Ministry of Defense stated that the vessels departed from various international ports, including those in Spain, Italy, and Turkey. The official position of the Israeli government maintains that the flotilla was organized by Hamas in collaboration with international organizations under the guise of humanitarian aid.
According to reports from The Times of Israel, under Israeli legislation, the defense minister holds the authority to issue orders for the "seizure of property belonging to a terrorist organization or used for terrorist purposes." This maritime mission represents one of several attempts by international activists to challenge the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, which Israel maintains is necessary to prevent the smuggling of weapons and military equipment to militant groups in the territory.
