Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Israel says it intercepted latest Gaza flotilla, with all passengers safe and set for deportation

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff 8 October 2025, 6:40 am
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Israeli Navy forces board one of the Freedom Flotilla's boats in the Mediterranean Sea, early October 8, 2025. (Screenshot: X)
Israeli Navy forces board one of the Freedom Flotilla's boats in the Mediterranean Sea, early October 8, 2025. (Screenshot: X)

Israel says a new flotilla that attempted to break the maritime blockade on Gaza has been prevented from realizing its goal, with its vessels and passengers intercepted and taken to an Israeli port.

“Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing,” says the Foreign Ministry on X. “The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly.”

The nine-boat flotilla organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, said to include about 100 activists on one of the boats named Conscience, set sail from Italy some two weeks ago.

The organizers of the Conscience said earlier this morning that “Our vessel is currently being attacked by an Israeli military helicopter while the 8 sailboats are being illegally intercepted and hijacked.”

Footage published by the activists shows Israeli Navy forces boarding the vessels.

The development comes a week after the Navy intercepted 42 vessels that formed the Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest to challenge the Gaza blockade to date. Israel has deported most of the 479 activists who took part in that armada, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

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