IDF naval commandos began boarding vessels of the "Sumud" Gaza-bound flotilla on Monday in a daytime operation, preparing to confront activists from the IHH Turkish organization, whose members attacked Israeli forces in 2010. According to multiple reports, Shayetet 13 (the IDF's elite naval commando unit) operatives carried out the boarding operation. In at least one instance, flotilla members were seen with their hands raised, and the takeover proceeded without incident. The flotilla consisted of 57 vessels that departed Turkey last week.
🔴 ACİL DURUM| İsrail işgal güçleri, Gazze kuşatmasını kırmaya çalışan Küresel Sumud Filosu gemilerine denizde saldırıyor. pic.twitter.com/NHSi8HZkxA
— Mavi Marmara (@mavimarmaratr) May 18, 2026
The Foreign Ministry weighed in on the flotilla Monday, declaring that Israel would not permit any violation of the lawful naval blockade on the Gaza Strip and labeling the convoy a "provocation" that carried no humanitarian aid for Gaza residents.
"Once again, provocation for the sake of provocation: another so-called 'humanitarian aid flotilla' with no humanitarian aid. This time, two violent Turkish groups – Mavi Marmara and IHH, the latter designated a terrorist organization – are part of the provocation," the Foreign Ministry statement read.
🔴Global Sumud Filosu saldırı altında!
⛵️Filoya ait Munki teknesi işgalci İsrail tarafından saldırıya uğradı. Şuan tekne ile bağlantımız kopmuş durumda. pic.twitter.com/y4UQXGO097
— Mavi Marmara (@mavimarmaratr) May 18, 2026
"The purpose of this provocation is to serve Hamas, to divert attention from Hamas' refusal to disarm, and to block progress on President Trump's peace plan. As the Board of Peace has made clear – which supervises humanitarian activity in Gaza under UN Security Council Resolution 2803 – this flotilla is only about publicity. The Gaza Strip is flooded with aid. Since October 2025 alone, more than 1.58 million tons of humanitarian aid and thousands of tons of medical supplies have entered Gaza. Israel will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza. Israel calls on all participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately," the ministry statement read.
Sources within the flotilla told the Turkish Anadolu news agency that they had observed increased drone activity around the convoy's vessels and expected Israeli action soon. Two activists who had previously been arrested and released by Israel also rejoined the flotilla and were making their way toward Israeli territorial waters.
