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Israeli forces were intercepting a Gaza-bound assistance flotilla connected Monday (May 18, 2026) aft it acceptable sail from Türkiye past week, with organisers saying 1 of the vessels was stopped westbound of Cyprus.
"Military vessels are presently intercepting our fleet and IDF forces are presently boarding the archetypal of our boats successful wide daylight," the Global Sumud Flotilla posted connected X. "Normalisation of the occupation's unit is simply a menace to america all."
Around 50 ships had departed from southwestern Türkiye connected Thursday (May 14, 2026) arsenic portion of the flotilla. On Monday (May 18, 2026), Israel had vowed to artifact the vessels.
"Israel volition not let immoderate breach of the lawful naval blockade connected Gaza," the Foreign Ministry posted connected X. "Israel calls connected each participants successful this provocation to alteration people and crook backmost immediately."
The Ministry did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected whether Israeli forces were intercepting the boats.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is the 3rd inaugural successful a twelvemonth aimed astatine breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has suffered terrible shortages of food, water, medicine and substance since the Israel-Hamas warfare broke retired successful October 2023.
Israeli authorities cull claims of assistance shortages, saying the Palestinian territory is "flooded" with supplies.
Israeli forces intercepted the 2nd flotilla successful planetary waters disconnected Greece connected April 30, expelling astir of the activists to Europe. But they arrested 2 of them, who were held for respective days successful Israel earlier they were deported.
Rights groups said the arrests were amerciable and that the men suffered maltreatment portion successful Israeli detention. Israeli authorities person rejected the maltreatment allegations but filed nary charges against the pair.
