From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 18, 2026
Israeli Navy begins to intercept boats in Gaza-bound flotilla off Cyprus coast
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israeli Navy has begun to intercept the activist mission sailing to the Gaza Strip to challenge Israel’s naval blockade.
A livestream shows naval commandos boarding one of Global Sumud Flotilla’s vessels at sea off the coast of Cyprus.
The Israeli Navy has begun to intercept the activist mission sailing to the Gaza Strip to challenge Israel's naval blockade. pic.twitter.com/YXeSwxPDOd
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 18, 2026
Earlier, Israel warned the “participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately.”
Israel has previously dismissed the flotillas as publicity stunts, after their organizers rejected calls to transfer the small amount of symbolic aid they had been carrying with them to Israel or international organizations to be taken into the Strip and distributed via official channels.
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