The Israeli military began intercepting ships of another Global Sumud flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip on Monday (May 18, 2026), as seen in a live broadcast from the vessels themselves, where troops were observed boarding some of the ships.

"I think they are doing an extraordinary job (...) and that they are, in fact, thwarting a malicious plan designed to break the blockade we have imposed on the Hamas terrorists in Gaza," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to the commander of the Israeli interception of this new aid flotilla destined for Gaza, according to a statement from his office.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry earlier condemned the Israeli Navy's assault on the Global Sumud flotilla in international waters west of Cyprus: "We condemn the intervention of Israeli forces in international waters against the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, an intervention that represents a new act of piracy," the Turkish statement said.

Ankara demands that Israel "immediately end the intervention" and "release without conditions" the intercepted flotilla participants. "We are taking steps to ensure that our citizens on the flotilla can return to our country safely and are closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with other countries," the statement added.

The statement urged the international community to adopt without delay "a common and resolute stance against Israel's illegal actions." Among the 426 activists from 39 different countries aboard the 52 ships currently en route to Gaza, there are also 96 Turkish citizens, according to the Turkish news agency Anadolu.

On April 30, Israel confirmed the capture of a previous flotilla of nearly 200 pro-Palestinian militants and about 20 boats off the Greek island of Crete, far from Israeli shores. A dozen countries also protested at that time.