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Israeli authorities have stated that its naval forces managed to halt a humanitarian aid mission trying to reach the Gaza Strip shoreline.

Nonetheless, it has been reported that one vessel, named the Mikeno, slipped past the naval blockade and stopped within Gaza's coastal waters before contact with the ship was cut off.

This represents the initial instance since the imposition of a sea blockade on Gaza's waters in 2009 that an unapproved aid effort has come closer than 70 nautical miles of the territory.

Official Statement

The Israel's foreign ministry stated that a remaining vessel of the flotilla remains in the distance.”

“Should it come closer,” they continued, “its attempt to access an war zone and break the blockade will likewise be stopped.”

Boarding Details

Vessels from the humanitarian convoy, which included over forty civilian boats transporting about 500 lawmakers, lawyers, and activists, were seized on Wednesday evening by Israel's military roughly 75 miles from the shore of Gaza.

Video footage from the Israeli foreign ministry showed participants seated on a ship deck with soldiers on the main ship, the Alma.

In a video message shared on Instagram just prior to the boarding, one participant said: “They are going to stop us by Israel.”

Those on board were arrested and taken into custody to the port of Ashdod.

The ministry announced it would deport all activists on the convoy.

Participant Reports

The mission released several videos on Telegram with messages from individuals on board the various boats, some holding their identification and stating they had been abducted and brought to Israel against their will, reiterating that their purpose was a peaceful humanitarian cause.

The boats were sailing in open sea north of Egypt on Wednesday afternoon when the interceptions started and had entered what has been called a “danger area.”

While still in international waters, it is an area where the Israeli navy has stopped other boats trying to break its blockade in the previous years and which the convoy had been warned not to enter.

Interception Timeline

About 7:25 pm, approximately 20 Israeli naval ships approached the flotilla and instructed them to shut down their motors, those on board reported on online platforms.

Real-time video from the flotilla showed passengers sitting in a circle, in life vests as they expected interception. The broadcast cut off soon after.

“The ships are being illegally intercepted,” a post on the mission’s social media page stated on Wednesday night. “Recording devices are not working and vessels have been boarded by military personnel. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all people onboard.”

Video aired by news channels showed activists on the ship being sprayed by powerful jets of water. Those aboard reported they also experienced loud bangs near several of the vessels, believed to be distraction devices dropped from drones.

Global Responses

Detainees involved several Irish citizens, including a politician, at least two Italian MPs, and a French MEP.

Spontaneous protests broke out in Italy in reaction to the incident. Rallies were also reported in several locations including Brussels, Athens, Buenos Aires, and Berlin, while the Spanish government urged Israel to protect the security and rights of activists.

The Spanish labour minister labeled the interception of the flotilla as “an unlawful act against global law” and demanded that Israel free those it had detained.

Writing on an online platform, the official stated: “Europe needs to end ties with Israel immediately.”

The ministry released a declaration on Wednesday, noting that the mission was a “non-violent and aid civil society initiative” and calling for the “safety and legal protections” of the nationals on board to be upheld.

The statement ended: “Spain will continue to demand an end to the war in Gaza, the massive entry of assistance, the freeing of all captives, and the establishment of the two-state solution: Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security.”

The British government were “deeply worried” about Israel’s stopping of an international aid flotilla headed to Gaza, the government office said on the next day, adding that it had made clear to Israel that the matter should be handled safely.

“There is great concern about the situation with the aid convoy, we are in contact with the families of a group of British nationals participating,” the British Foreign Office commented in a statement. “The humanitarian supplies carried by the flotilla should be handed to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be transported safely into Gaza.”

The Turkish ministry stated the Israeli “attack” on the flotilla was “a terrorist act” that risked the safety of non-combatants.

Background on the Blockade

The sea blockade was established in 2009 by Israel, an intensification of its 2007 blockade of Gaza in response to Hamas taking over of the area. It has been criticized on multiple times by the United Nations, which has called it “a direct contravention of global rights and aid law”.

An expert on global law at a university in Jerusalem, commented that as long as Israel’s blockade of Gaza was “militarily justified” – meant to prevent weapons – and a ship attempted to break the blockade, Israel could intercept the vessel after giving notice.

If the blockade is legally sound, and its legality, are points of contention.

The mission argues it is a civilian, unarmed organization and that the delivery of humanitarian aid is guaranteed in global law. Earlier efforts by campaigners to break the naval blockade on Gaza were stopped by military action by the Israel's forces.

In 2010, ten individuals were killed by military personnel who boarded a vessel as it led an humanitarian mission heading to Gaza.