Israeli boats approach Gaza aid flotilla to impose naval blockade, organizers say

More than 20 Israeli boats were spotted approaching an international aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza said on Wednesday evening.

A spokesman for the Global Sumud Flotilla said the Israeli boats were moving to impose a naval blockade on the convoy.

The Israeli vessels were detected approximately three nautical miles away from the flotilla, the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement.

“At the current pace, we would reach their position in about 30 minutes if they don’t move,” the flotilla said.

A state of emergency was declared across the vessels of the global mission.

Wael Naouar, the spokesman for the Maghreb branch of the Global Sumud Flotilla, said on US social media company Facebook that an Israeli interception attempt is expected within an hour.

The Alma, the flotilla’s flagship, announced that it is four nautical miles away from the rest of the flotilla.

The Alma was approached by an Israeli naval vessel early Wednesday, which led to the disruption of the internet and communication networks.

The flotilla, loaded mainly with humanitarian aid and medical supplies, set sail several days ago in a bid to break the Israeli blockade.

Israel tightened the siege further this March by closing all border crossings and blocking food, medicine, and aid, pushing Gaza into famine despite aid trucks piling up at its borders.

The Israeli army has killed over 66,100 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable and led to starvation and the spread of diseases.