European Green Party calls flotilla interception ‘breach of international law’
The European Green Party has “strongly condemned” Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla with all but one boat now seized.
In a statement, Green’s Co-Chair Vula Tsetsi said the blocking of humanitarian aid and “silencing independent observers is unacceptable”.
“It constitutes a clear breach of international law. We call on EU institutions and national governments to take immediate action to secure the safety and release of all those on board,” Tsetsi said.
“We call for life-saving aid to be urgently delivered to the civilian population in Gaza. We call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire – and for EU institutions to play their part in ensuring it. The Israeli government must be held accountable for its acts of violence and the genocide it continues to perpetrate.”
Qatar calls for immediate release of all flotilla detainees
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels and described the mass seizure as a “threat to maritime safety and freedom of navigation”.
In a statement, the ministry called for the immediate release of those detained and demanded “those responsible be held accountable”.
“The ministry reiterates Qatar’s call on the international community to uphold its moral and legal responsibilities by taking decisive action against the continued violations of international law by Israeli occupation authorities,” it said.
“The ministry further stresses the importance of ensuring the safe, unimpeded, and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip.”
Statement | Qatar Strongly Condemns Israeli Interception of Global Sumud Flotilla#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/44cSqRvuui
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) October 2, 2025
Capture of aid flotilla exemplifies ‘brutality in Gaza’, Erdogan says
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called Israel’s interception of the Gaza aid vessels an “act of piracy”. In an address to his AK Party, he said the move in international waters proves “the genocide apparatus is in a state of frenzy to conceal its crimes in Gaza”.
“The genocidal [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government cannot tolerate even the slightest chance for peace to take hold,” Erdogan said.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla has once again shown the world the brutality in Gaza and Israel’s murderous face. We will not abandon our Palestinian brothers and sisters and will work with all our might to secure a ceasefire and restore peace.”
Erdogan made the speech after the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office announced it has opened an investigation into the detention of Turkish citizens on board the boats trying to break the siege of Gaza.
Israel says 40 flotilla boats seized
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that 40 of the boats have been intercepted, that those who were on board have been detained, and that one group after another will be arriving at the Ashdod port, where deportation proceedings will commence.
They will be deported to Europe, according to that statement from the ministry.
Of course, none of these activists were trying to get into Israel – they were, as we’ve been reporting, trying to get to Gaza and to [its] territorial waters.
