Translated with AI
The Israeli Navy detained several vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the organization reported on April 30.
According to the organization, some of the ships will be towed to the port of Ashdod in Israel. The organization stated that the Israeli military is enforcing a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
It was also reported that communication with the boats was lost and a distress signal was sent from them.
Earlier, on April 26, dozens of ships carrying activists departed from a Sicilian port headed for the Gaza Strip. The Global Sumud Flotilla claims this was the largest flotilla ever to attempt to reach the enclave.
According to the dpa news agency, pro-Palestinian activists intended to once again attempt to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since 2007 and is also supported by Egypt, and deliver humanitarian aid to the region. Furthermore, the stated goal of the action was to facilitate the establishment of a permanent humanitarian corridor.
It is noted that in August 2025, Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg confirmed her participation in a similar action organized by the Global Sumud Flotilla. According to her, the participants aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and secure the opening of a humanitarian corridor.
In October 2025, the Israeli government and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire as part of a peace plan developed by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The US, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt acted as guarantors of the agreement.
In the first phase of the agreement, Hamas militants returned all surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
In mid-January, the White House announced the start of the second phase of the plan, which envisages transferring governance of the Gaza Strip to the National Committee until the Palestinian National Authority can assume these functions.
