The Global Sumud Flotilla activists said on Thursday Israeli soldiers boarded the ships, damaged engines and communications devices in an effort to force them to reverse course.
Israeli military forces have intercepted boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla travelling to Gaza in international waters near Greece, the group said on Thursday.
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In a post on X, the group, which initially set sail with 58 vessels carrying activists and aid, aiming to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Strip, said its boats were intercepted in what they called an "illegal act".
The number of vessels seized is unclear at this time. Israeli army radio, citing an unnamed military source, said seven of the 58 boats had been intercepted near Kythira.
The flotilla said it had lost contact with 11 vessels and described 15 as having been boarded.
The Israeli foreign ministry subsequently said forces had detained 175 people from more than 20 boats.
"Approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats ... are now making their way peacefully to Israel," the ministry said in a statement, including a video of the activists aboard an Israeli navy ship.
'Professionalism and determination'
The interceptions began in the early hours of Thursday, more than 600 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza.
“Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel’, pointing lasers and semi-automatic weapons ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees. The boat communications are being jammed and an SOS was issued,” the group shared in a statement.
They also reported many boats in the travelling fleet were damaged in the “violent raid” after Israeli soldiers boarded and “systematically disabled” several ships.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said Israeli soldiers had acted "with professionalism and determination" in stopping what he called a "provocative flotilla" before it reached Israeli waters.
It is not yet clear if Israel arrested all the activists on board every boat it intercepted and took them on board Israeli vessels, or if some activists remain stranded at sea.
The group said it remained committed to sailing to Gaza to deliver the aid and shed light on the plight of the Palestinian people, who it said have been sidelined in international priorities in the wake of the Iran war.
Israel has previously described the flotilla as a political provocation with alleged ties to Hamas, a characterisation the group has rejected.
In October 2025, Israel intercepted a previous Global Sumud Flotilla mission, detaining more than 450 activists including climate activist Greta Thunberg and MEP Rima Hassan. All were subsequently released and returned to their home countries.