Israel Seizes Final ‘Freedom Flotilla’ Ship, Detains 500 Activists Worldwide
Gaza: Israeli forces have intercepted the last vessel of the international “Freedom Flotilla,” preventing it from delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and detaining all six volunteers on board.
According to Reuters, the vessel, named *Marinette* and sailing under the Polish flag, carried activists from Germany, Turkey, Oman, and Australia. It was just 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza’s coast when Israeli naval units seized it and diverted it to Ashdod port. The activists were taken into custody.
Marinette, the last remaining boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla, was intercepted at 10:29am local time, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza.
Over 38 hours, Israeli occupation naval forces illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels—each carrying … https://t.co/SYT9QyY03H— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) October 3, 2025
Organizers of the flotilla confirmed that all 43 ships, carrying food and medical supplies, along with some 500 volunteers from across the globe, have now been detained. The group included prominent lawyers, parliamentarians, and human rights defenders. Among them were global climate activist Greta Thunberg and Pakistan’s former senator Mushtaq Ahmed.
Israeli media reported that the detainees are being transferred to Ketziot prison in the Negev desert until their deportation process is completed. Preparations are already underway to repatriate several European nationals.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has maintained a strict blockade on Gaza, blocking nearly all attempts to deliver humanitarian assistance to the besieged Palestinian population.
