Israel starts deportation of Gaza flotilla activists, four Italians first to be sent back

41 boats intercepted by Israel

The last boat in the Global Sumud Flotilla, the Marinette, which had been trailing behind the rest of the vessels, was still sailing towards the Palestinian territory when it was intercepted in the early hours of Friday.

All the other 41 vessels were intercepted by Thursday, and Israeli authorities had warned the Marinette would be stopped too if it continued on its journey.

A livestream from the Marinette showed the moment Israeli troops boarded the vessel. The flotilla, which was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza, was the largest attempt so far to try and break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory.

One flotilla boat returns to Cyprus

Another of the flotilla boats that had been sailing at the back of the convoy and turned back to avoid an Israeli interception returned to Cyprus’ Larnaca port on Thursday evening with 21 people aboard.

The captain of the Summertime Jong, Palestinian Osama Qashoo, 43, said he turned back as his boat’s mission was to just to support the rest of the flotilla. The activists are “on the right side of history by being on the side of the oppressed people,” he told The Associated Press.

Malaysian activist Nadi Al-Nuri, who was also aboard the Summertime Jong and is on the flotilla’s steering committee, said that while the boats didn’t make it to Gaza and none of their humanitarian aid reached Palestinians, they wouldn’t give up. “We will do this again and again and until we reach our end,” Al-Nuri said.

“And that is to stop the genocide and to liberate Palestine.”Already, another flotilla of boats with dozens of activists set sail last week from Italy across the Mediterranean Sea. The nine-vessel group made of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and the Thousand Madleens to Gaza was still days away from the Palestinian territory, according to the boats’ tracker.

Flotilla boats did not carry aid: Israel

Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has claimed that none of the vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla was carrying humanitarian aid.

The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry also released a video by the Israeli Police featuring spokesperson Dean Elsdunne showing the empty interior of one of the flotilla’s largest vessels.

WHERE IS THE AID?? Just another free clout cruise using Hamas oppressed Gazans for their own benefit and distracting from the peace deal on the table.

– Lieutenant Dean Elsdunne, International Spokesperson, Israel Police pic.twitter.com/nUZM7X1QPX

— Jewish Breaking News (@JBreakingNews) October 2, 2025

According to Elsdunne, the lack of aid was the reason why the flotilla organisers refused Israel’s suggestion that they should hand over the materials. Israel, which repeatedly warned the flotilla that they would be detained if they entered the active war zone, had instead suggested that the aid should be handed over to them.

Ben-Gvir mocks Gaza flotilla activists

Following the detention of the Gaza flotilla activists, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, one of the most vocal critics of the activists, visited the southern port of Ashdod, where they were being held.

He accused the flotilla participants, who come from more than 40 countries, of supporting “terrorism,” and aboard one of the seized boats, mocked the activists’ aid initiative. In videos posted on social media, the activists were seen sitting cross-legged on the floor while Ben-Kvir stands and delivers his accusations. One person is heard shouting back, “Free Palestine,” but it was not immediately clear from the footage who that was.

Protests around the world

The interceptions of the flotilla boats and the arrest of the activists sparked demonstrations across continents, from Latin America to Asia. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets again late Thursday and on Friday in Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland and other countries to protest the arrest of the activists and to demand an end to the war in Gaza. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine!” In several places, the protesters stormed railway stations, blocked roads and clashed with police.

In Italy, workers and students took to the streets after the country’s largest unions called for a one-day general strike in solidarity with the Palestinians and the flotilla. Hundreds of trains were cancelled or delayed, as were several domestic flights, and many private and public schools were closed.