Gaza aid Flotilla to hold press conference after Israeli naval interception attempt

Gaza: Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international convoy carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, announced a press conference following an Israeli naval interception attempt early Wednesday.

The event will take place at 12:30 PM Gaza time (0930 UTC) near the 120-nautical-mile mark off Gaza’s coast, where the flotilla was confronted by Israeli forces.

According to reports from onboard journalists and flotilla organizers, an Israeli warship approached the lead vessel, Alma, within five feet, executing an “intimidatory operation” that jammed the ship’s communications and engine systems. The crew was briefly left incommunicado, and per emergency protocol, some passengers reportedly threw their phones into the sea to prevent possible data interception.

Contact with the Alma has since been restored, and the flotilla is now continuing its course toward Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla has announced that its fleet has entered the “high-risk zone,” located 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) from Gaza—an area where previous flotillas have been intercepted or attacked by Israeli forces.

United Nations Special Reporter Francesca Albanese and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have both called for the flotilla to be allowed to proceed without interference.

To support its safe passage through international waters, ships from Spain and Italy have joined the flotilla, while drones from Türkiye have been deployed overhead, reportedly to monitor for any potential attacks.

The flotilla is part of a broader civil society initiative to break Israel’s 18-year blockade of Gaza, which intensified after March 2, 2025, when Israel sealed all crossings and blocked the entry of food, medicine, and aid. Organizers say their mission aims to deliver urgent relief to a population pushed into famine.