The Israeli navy has told a flotilla carrying aid towards Gaza to change course, as activists say the boats have been intercepted.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) wrote on social media that some of its vessels had been boarded by 'military personnel' after being approached by Israeli ships and that it was working to confirm the status of those aboard.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the navy had informed the flotilla of its approach to an 'active combat zone' and that it would not allow the flotilla to reach its intended destination. Previously, similar attempts resulted in the detention of activists by Israeli forces.
Israeli officials claimed the flotilla was violating a lawful naval blockade near Gaza's waters, although details on the vessels' location remain unclear. The GSF indicated that multiple ships, including the Alma, Surius, and Adara, had been intercepted.
Amid the development, the GSF accused Israel of deliberately damaging their ship communications to block distress signals and prevent schedule livestream coverage at sea.
Despite these challenges, several webcams continue to stream footage of the activists aboard the vessels, which are approximately 70 nautical miles from Gaza's shoreline and hoping to arrive by Thursday morning.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed reports of the flotilla's interception, noting that France was ensuring the security of the boarding operation.
The safety of the 500 individuals onboard, including political figures and activists like Greta Thunberg, has become a matter of concern for several governments, including Italy and Greece, who are closely monitoring the situation.
Earlier this year, Israel blocked two previous attempts by activists to deliver aid to Gaza.
