'Piracy': Israel raids Gaza-bound aid flotilla off Greek coast

<article data-history-node-id="439320" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/piracy-israel-raids-gaza-bound-aid-flotilla-greek-coast" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/piracy-israel-raids-gaza-bound-aid-flotilla-greek-coast" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">'Piracy': Israel raids Gaza-bound aid flotilla off Greek coast</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israeli</a>&nbsp;naval forces raided Gaza-bound aid vessels in international waters hundreds of nautical miles from the besieged enclave late on Wednesday.</p> <p>According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://globalsumudflotilla.org/" target="_blank">Global Sumud Flotilla</a>&nbsp;aid mission, at least 15 boats were raided, with those on board “abducted” by Israeli forces and unaccounted for.</p> <p>Israel’s Foreign Ministry said approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats were in Israeli custody.</p> <p>The Global Sumud Flotilla said various vessels were “systematically disabled” after being raided, leaving activists stranded at sea.</p> <p>“After smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays, the military retreated - intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm,” it said.</p> <h3>Read more:&nbsp;<a aria-label="'Piracy': Israel raids Gaza-bound aid flotilla off Greek coast" href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-military-intercepts-gaza-bound-aid-vessel-greek-coast">'Piracy': Israel raids Gaza-bound aid flotilla off Greek coast</a></h3> <p><img alt="A CCTV footage shows crew of the Gaza-bound flotilla raise their arms during the Israeli raid of their boats off the coast of Greece, on 30 April 2026 (Screengrab/Global Sumud Flotilla via Reuters)" src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images-story/2026-04-30T053542Z_735104241_RC2HZKAU6VYN_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-GAZA-FLOTILLA%20%281%29.jpg.jpg?itok=LDK2DO-j"></p> </div> </div> </article>