Israel fires rubber bullets, blasts Eurovision song at Gaza flotilla boats

Israel fired rubber bullets at a few of the vessels in the flotilla attempting to breach the IDF’s blockade of Gaza, according to footage circulating online and claims by activists aboard the boats. Hebrew media also reports the incident, with Channel 12 saying that “several rubber bullets were fired at a small number of vessels” in the flotilla that are still proceeding toward Gaza and “did not heed [the Navy’s] calls.”

There are no immediate reports of casualties.

“At no point was live ammunition fired,” the Foreign Ministry says in a statement. “Following multiple warnings, non-lethal means were employed toward the vessel – not toward protesters – as a warning.”

Israeli authorities have reportedly seized 41 of the flotilla’s 51 vessels so far, with the remaining 10 expected to be intercepted by the navy in the coming hours.

The Channel 12 report says there is a female Israeli citizen among the activists.

Israeli forces opened fire at a Global Sumud Flotilla boat on Tuesday, targeting the vessel with rubber bullets. pic.twitter.com/SfGLDQXUhm

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) May 19, 2026

Additional footage circulating online appears to show Israeli authorities blasting “Michelle” by Noam Bettan, Israel’s entry in the recent Eurovision Song Contest, through the speakers of at least one flotilla vessel.

In similar footage circulated yesterday, Israeli authorities were seen playing “Oops!… I Did It Again” by Britney Spears through at least one of the flotilla boats’ speakers.

ההטרלה של לוחמי שייטת 13: "מישל" של נועם בתן בהשתלטות על ספינת משט לעזה @kann pic.twitter.com/4HWxBdGOK0

— איתי בלומנטל ???????? Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) May 19, 2026