News|Israel-Palestine conflictIsrael dismantles Gaza humanitarian flotilla – but one boat sails on

The Israeli military has intercepted a humanitarian flotilla attempting to break its blockade on Gaza, detaining hundreds of activists and seizing dozens of vessels. As of early Friday, only the Polish-flagged yacht Marinette, with a crew of six, remains operational. This yacht is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla , which originally consisted of 44 ships.

The captain, identified as Cameron, reported via video call that the vessel experienced initial engine issues, delaying its progress. The yacht is currently advancing towards Gaza. A live geo tracker shows the ship approximately 43 nautical miles from Gaza’s territorial waters.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned that attempts to enter the blockade zone will be prevented. Since Wednesday, Israel's naval forces have intercepted numerous boats carrying aid to Gaza and detained around 500 activists from more than 40 countries. The naval blockade is stated as lawful by Israel, though it faces opposition under international law.

High-profile figures, including activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, are among the detainees. Stephen Cotton, the general secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, stated that such actions are illegal under international law. Various world leaders have condemned the seizures, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelling Israeli diplomats and canceling Colombia's free trade agreement in response.

Several European countries, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, and Ireland, have called for Israel to respect the rights of the detained crew members. The United Nations has not yet commented, but Francesca Albanese, the UN’s special rapporteur for Palestine, has labeled the interceptions as an “illegal abduction.”

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.