Main events on October 1st

• Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla on its way to Gaza, detaining dozens of activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
• News of the flotilla’s capture has triggered demonstrations across Europe, with protests reported in Greece, Italy and Belgium in support of Palestinians.
• In Gaza, missiles struck al-Falah School in the Zeitoun district of Gaza City, where hundreds of displaced people had sought shelter. At least six people were killed, among them civil defence worker Munther al-Dahshan.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross announced it had closed its Gaza City office and moved staff south, citing the intensification of Israel’s military campaign.
• Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told Al Jazeera that the peace plan presented by US President Donald Trump meets mediators’ key demands, particularly ending the killings and halting forced displacement.

At least 73 killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza since dawn

The death toll in Gaza has risen, with Israeli bombardment killing at least 73 people since dawn, most of them in Gaza City, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

Earlier, we reported that two missiles struck a school that had been converted into a shelter east of the city, killing dozens of displaced Palestinians. As civil defence crews rushed to the scene, another strike critically injured many of them and killed six more civilians.

Elsewhere, at least seven people were killed in an attack on a house in the Daraj neighbourhood.

Israel’s assault on the enclave shows no sign of easing, with strikes continuing to pound densely populated areas.

Eight flotilla boats confirmed intercepted

The Global Sumud Flotilla says eight of its vessels have now been intercepted by Israeli forces while attempting to sail towards Gaza. The boats confirmed as seized by Israel are the Deir Yassine/Mali, Huga, Spectre, Adara, Alma, Sirius, Aurora and Grande Blue.

The convoy was carrying international activists and humanitarian aid in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has been described by the International Court of Justice as unlawful.

“Send In the Troops!”: Colombian President HITS BACK At Netanyahu

Roger Waters joins the show to talk about Gaza, the UN, free speech & what he wants the president of Colombia to do.

Colombia’s President Petro condemns attack on flotilla, expels Israeli diplomats

President Gustavo Petro has expelled the entire Israeli diplomatic delegation from the South American country in response to Israel’s interception of Gaza flotilla activists, including two Colombian nationals.

In a post on X, Petro also said a free trade agreement between Colombia and Israel had been “denounced immediately” in response to the “new international crime by Benjamin Netanyahu”.

“Here Netanyahu demonstrates his worldwide hypocrisy and why he is a worldwide criminal who must be captured,” Petro said in another post.

Petro also said the country’s Foreign Ministry intended to file lawsuits against Israel and called for support from international lawyers.

Todo el qué se alegre porque un gobierno totalitario detiene jóvenes civiles en aguas internacionales, es porque nunca entendió que es civilización. https://t.co/XVaJX0UOzQ

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 1, 2025

Israeli interception is not an arrest, it’s kidnapping

Hassan Jabareen, the director of Palestinian-run legal centre Adalah, which has previously represented Gaza flotilla activists, has described Israel’s interception of the vessels in international waters as a “kidnapping, not arrest”.

Jabareen explained that flotilla participants have been taken to Ashdod port and may face deportation or court hearings within days.

Venezuela condemns Israel’s ‘cowardly act of piracy’ against flotilla

A statement posted on Telegram by Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said the Israeli military attacked a “civilian and peaceful mission whose sole purpose was to deliver 5,500 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people subjected to hunger and extermination”.

The statement said that the Israeli military boarding boats of the flotilla in international waters “exposes, once again, the criminal nature of the Zionist regime”.

“The blockade of humanitarian aid is a tool of deliberate war, the continuation of genocide by other means, seeing to annihilate the population by starvation to complement their indiscriminate bombings,” it said.

Turkiye slams Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla, demands ‘immediate release’ of citizens

Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry has blasted Israel’s interception of the Gaza flotilla, saying the military action against civilian vessels in international waters endangers the lives of innocent civilians, the country’s official Anadolu news agency reports.

“This attack, which targeted civilians acting peacefully without resorting to violence, is proof that the fascist and militarist policies implemented by the genocidal Netanyahu government, which has condemned Gaza to famine, are not limited to Palestinians,” the ministry said in a statement quoted by Anadolu.

The interception of the flotilla and arrest of activists show that Israeli forces target “everyone who struggles against the oppression imposed by Israel”, the ministry said.

All steps would now be taken to secure the release of Turkish citizens detained by the Israeli forces, the ministry said, adding that Turkiye’s government would launch legal action against the perpetrators of the attack on the flotilla.

About 30 flotilla vessels evade Israeli forces, now 85km from Gaza coast

As we previously reported, vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla have reportedly evaded Israeli naval forces and are continuing their journey to Gaza.

The activist group has now said that some 30 boats are “still sailing strong on their way to Gaza, just 46 nautical miles [85km] away, despite the incessant aggressions from the Israeli occupation navy”.

France MEP Emma Fourreau from the #GlobalSumudFlotilla:

"Israel has stopped the flotilla. let’s block everything. Block the country, paralyze the global economy. Let’s finish the flotilla’s mission: end the blockade, end the genocide in Gaza!" pic.twitter.com/Xg0Qh2YxZr

— Adrian Zahir⚡ (@AdrianZahir_) October 2, 2025

‘Mission continues’: 13 vessels intercepted but 30 still sailing towards Gaza coast

The Global Sumud Flotilla reports that 13 vessels have been intercepted so far by Israel and 30 are still enroute to reach the coast of the war-torn territory with aid for starving Palestinians.

“The illegal Israeli interceptions won’t deter us,” the group said.

“We continue on our mission to break the siege and open a humanitarian corridor,” it said.

Sumud Flotilla Interception Sparks Massive Protest in Rome | DRM News | AC1N



Pro-Palestinian activists staged protests in Rome after authorities intercepted the International Sumud flotilla, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Demonstrators demand freedom of navigation and highlight ongoing humanitarian concerns. Tensions continue as activists call for international attention to the blockade. For more details, watch our story and subscribe to our channel, DRM News.

LIVE: 13 Global Sumud Flotilla HIJACKED By Israeli Navy

Gaza flotilla shone ‘light on horrific humanitarian catastrophe’: Irish FM

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris said he has spoken to European Union counterparts who are part of the Gaza flotilla after the raid by Israeli forces and the arrest of activists attempting to deliver aid by sea to the Palestinian territory.

“Tonight’s reports are very concerning. This is a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe,” Harris said in a post on social media.

Members of the flotilla must be treated in strict accordance with international law, he said.

Ireland’s Foreign Ministry said it was focused on assisting Irish people in the flotilla, adding that the “safety of Irish citizens remains our priority”.

I am keeping in close contact with my officials who are working on the ground and have also spoken with EU counterparts on the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Tonight’s reports are very concerning. This is a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe. https://t.co/ilhWynYt85

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) October 1, 2025

Israeli forces detain more than 200 people in flotilla from 37 countries: Spokesperson

Global Sumud Flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek has provided a “mission update” in a post on Instagram, confirming that Israeli forces have intercepted 13 boats at sea.

Abukeshek said there were more than 201 people from 37 countries on those boats, including 30 participants from Spain; 22 from Italy; 21 from Turkey; and 12 from Malaysia.

He said the group’s “mission is going on” despite the arrests and vessels are continuing to sail “through the Mediterranean to break the siege on Gaza”.

“We have around 30 ships that are still fighting their way away from the military vessels of the occupation forces trying to reach to the shores of Gaza. They are determined. They are motivated, and they are doing everything within their hand to be able to break this [siege] by early morning and to arrive together,” he said.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPSX8VpiO5n

Protest in Argentinian capital over Israeli raid on flotilla, arrest of activists

Activists have gathered on the streets of the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, to protest against the interception by Israel of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

The Associated Press (AP) news agency reports that among the people in the flotilla is Celeste Fierro, a Buenos Aires city legislator-elect for the Workers’ Socialist Movement, who was on board the Adara ship, which the Israeli navy intercepted.

“The colleagues who are there are in a difficult situation, but we are monitoring it,” Sergio Garcia told the AP at the protest in the city.

“We are talking and demanding that our country’s Foreign Ministry also take action so that Cele [Fierro] can quickly be with us, so we can greet her, give her a hug, and be proud here in Argentina.”


_{Pro-Palestine demonstrators gather in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla after ships were intercepted by the Israeli navy, on Wednesday}

Malaysian PM denounces Israel’s ‘intimidation, coercion’ of Gaza flotilla

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he condemns in the “strongest terms” Israel’s “intimidation and coercion” of vessels carrying “unarmed civilians and life-saving humanitarian supplies for Gaza”.

“By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world. The flotilla embodied solidarity, compassion and the hope of relief for those under blockade,” the Malaysian leader said on X.

Anwar added that Malaysia would use all “legitimate and lawful means” to ensure Israel is held to account, “especially in matters concerning Malaysian citizens”.

As we reported earlier, flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek said there were some 12 Malaysian citizens on board the 13 vessels that Israel has intercepted so far.

I condemn in the strongest terms Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. These vessels carried unarmed civilians and life-saving humanitarian supplies for Gaza, yet they were met with intimidation and coercion.

By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown… pic.twitter.com/iOPiBTM4PA

— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) October 1, 2025

Ex-diplomat says UK police ‘obliged’ to investigate ‘abduction’ of citizens from flotilla

Craig Murray, former head of the maritime section at the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has taken to social media to highlight the illegality of Israel’s action against the Gaza aid flotilla.

“The flotilla is on the High Seas and not in Israel’s 12 mile territorial sea. Israel has no jurisdiction,” Murray said in a series of bullet points on X.

Murray – who previously headed up British delegations regarding legal aspects of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – also said an “attack by a state military warship on a vessel on the High Seas is an attack on the flag state of the vessel attacked”.

The “possession of vessels and the abduction of crews” at sea can be pursued as a crime in domestic jurisdictions and is not just a crime under international law, he said.

“So the Metropolitan Police and DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions] have an obligation to investigate and act over the abduction of persons from UK flagged vessels on the High Seas,” he added.

“This applies to each flag state mutatis mutandi.”

I write as former Head of Maritime Section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
and Alternate Head of UK Delegation to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Prepcom.

1) The flotilla is on the High Seas and not in Israel's 12 mile territorial sea. Israel has no jurisdiction.…

— Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) October 1, 2025

Worldwide demonstrations over Israel’s interception of flotilla

Protests have broken out across several major world cities – including Mexico City, Bogota, Buenos Aires and Madrid – in response to the Israeli military intercepting more than a dozen vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters.


_{A pro-Palestinian demonstrator sprays graffiti during a march in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla in Mexico City, Mexico, on October 1}

_{A protester throws a stone at a shuttered cafe in Mexico City on October 1}

_{Pro-Palestinian demonstrators block the Gran Via street in Madrid, Spain, on October 1}

_{Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stop traffic in Bogota, Colombia, on October 1}

Gaza’s last lifeline road under threat as Israeli forces advance

As the Israeli military intercepts the Global Sumud Flotilla attempting to deliver vitally needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, inside the besieged enclave Israeli forces continue to attack vital lifelines needed by the local population.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it planned to close the al-Rashid coastal road, the only functioning route connecting Gaza City in the north to the south, and used by tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee Israel’s all-out military assault on the north of the territory.

Video clip appears to show Israeli water cannon hitting flotilla ship

The flotilla has shared video footage appearing to show the Yulara vessel being hit by Israeli water cannon during its interception and boarding by Israeli forces earlier tonight.

Sharing a video clip of the apparent Israeli raid at sea, the Global Sumud Flotilla said all communication with the vessel was cut, and the “status of the participants and crew remains unconfirmed”.

“This is an illegal attack on unarmed humanitarians. We call on governments and international institutions to demand their immediate safety and release,” the flotilla organisers said.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPSnqhEiIpC

If civilian aid flotilla can get close to Gaza, why can’t a navy ship?

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, has questioned why nations around the world have not tried to break the Israeli military’s naval blockade of Gaza, where Israel stands accused of genocide and engineering famine against civilians.

If “citizens of the world”, travelling in “small and underresourced boats”, have been able to get to within 60 nautical miles (111km) of Gaza in a flotilla, Albanese asked why countries with well-equipped navies can’t far more easily break the Israeli siege.

“Why states don’t break the blockade with their navies?” Albanese asked in a post on social media.

“Is this the world we live in? No, we do not accept it,” she said.

“Go, go Flotilla! Sail safe. God’s wind,” she added.

60 nautical miles? Wow.

If ordinary citizens of the world, with small and underresourced boats can do that, why states don't break the blockade with their navies?

Is this the world we live in? No, we do not accept it.

Go, go Flotilla! Sail safe.
God's wind. https://t.co/sOjSBJNi87

— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) October 1, 2025

Italy, Spain and Greece apparently only send a ship to try to deter the flotilla from moving on while trying to deter demonstrations domestically. They ran as soon as Israel told them to... 

Israel carries out ‘act of piracy’ against flotilla ships: Palestinian politician

Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian activist, politician and former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee, said Israel is carrying out a “criminal act of piracy” in international waters against the Gaza aid flotilla.

Describing the flotilla activists as “those brave men and women”, Ashrawi said they are defying Israel’s genocide and illegal blockade of Gaza.

“They’re putting their lives on the line by actively intervening [and] demonstrating the real meaning of solidarity [and] human empathy,” she said.

All eyes on the Sumud flotilla! https://t.co/LUDa5LF3O5

— Hanan Ashrawi (@DrHananAshrawi) October 1, 2025

Tracker shows at least 26 vessels still sailing towards Gaza

We have been reporting on the remaining operational vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla, yet to be intercepted by Israeli forces as they sail towards Gaza.

According to the flotilla’s live tracker, at least 26 vessels are still sailing, with the closest ships to Gaza’s coastline appearing to be approximately 50-60km away (31-37 miles).

Israeli forces raid Gaza aid flotilla, Greta Thunberg among some 200 activists arrested


_{A screengrab from a livestream video shows Israeli forces on board the Gaza-bound vessel Oxygono, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted in international waters on October 2}

_{Israeli soldiers point their guns at activists on board a vessel in the flotilla on Thursday morning}

_{Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, right, is questioned by the Israeli military on board a flotilla ship intercepted in international waters by Israel’s navy}

_{Activists in the flotilla raise their hands as the Israeli military intercepts vessels early on Thursday}