From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Navy boards some 40 flotilla vessels, transporting hundreds of activists to Israel
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Overnight and this morning, the Israeli Navy continued to intercept the large flotilla attempting to break the Israeli maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Forces of the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit have boarded around 40 of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s 47 boats, detaining hundreds of activists who are now being brought to Ashdod Port to then be deported from the country.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry says “the passengers are safe and in good health.”
At least four of the flotilla’s vessels are stuck at sea due to various technical problems, unrelated to the military’s actions. The Navy is set to detain the activists on those boats as well, or tow them to the port.
The Navy is also scanning the area to ensure no boats managed to sneak past and reach the Strip.
Israeli Navy troops board Global Sumud Flotilla boats in the Mediterranean Sea, early October 2, 2025. (Global Sumud Flotilla)
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