Israeli forces took control of vessels in a flotilla bound for Gaza on Wednesday evening local time. The flotilla, which includes dozens of boats, set sail from Barcelona about 10 days ago en route to the Strip. According to reports, the takeover occurred hundreds of kilometers from Israel's coast.
According to reports from activists on board, Israeli troops, who they claimed arrived in speedboats, boarded some of the vessels and ordered passengers to gather at the front of the boat and sit down in an orderly manner.
Participants in the flotilla also claimed that before the takeover, disruptions were recorded in the navigation and communications systems of several of the boats. One of them initially reported that it was under an "attempted takeover."
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that the IDF is enforcing the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip in accordance with the directives of Israel's political echelon.
During the takeover, flotilla participants circulated videos in which the troops could be heard calling on them to change course, saying that sailing to Gaza violates international law and that if they wished to send aid to Gaza, they should do so through the accepted channels via Ashdod Port.
Also confirmed: the same message was sent to Open Arms. pic.twitter.com/DQZA9uvOOy— Alex Colston (@enoughformethx) April 29, 2026
