Foreign Ministry says Israel will stop Gaza-bound flotilla ‘intended to serve Hamas’

Activists ride aboard a vessel departing from Tunisia's northern port of Bizerte on September 14, 2025, to join the last boats taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip. (Mohamed FLISS / AFP)
Activists ride aboard a vessel departing from Tunisia's northern port of Bizerte on September 14, 2025, to join the last boats taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip. (Mohamed FLISS / AFP)

The Foreign Ministry vows Israel will not allow the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of dozens of boats bound for Gaza carrying symbolic aid and pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activists, to reach its destination, accusing it of serving the Hamas terror group.

“This flotilla, organized by Hamas, is intended to serve Hamas,” it writes on X. “Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade.”

“If the flotilla participants’ genuine wish is to deliver humanitarian aid rather than serve Hamas, Israel calls on the vessels to dock at the Ashkelon Marina and unload the aid there, from where it will be transferred promptly in a coordinated manner to the Gaza Strip,” it writes.

“Israel urges the participants not to break the law and to accept Israel’s proposal for a peaceful transfer of any aid they might have,” it adds.

Among the activists on the fleet of boats is Sweden’s Greta Thunberg. Israel stopped a single ship carrying aid and a group of activists, including Thunberg, in June.

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