Overview

• Israeli naval units stopped the convoy about 70 miles off Gaza, boarding vessels and using non‑lethal measures before escorting passengers to Israel.
• The flotilla comprised 44 boats carrying roughly 500 participants and a symbolic cargo of aid, according to reports from organizers and local media.
• Detained passengers are being identified in Ashdod and offered immediate voluntary expulsion or detention pending court‑ordered removal, a process typically decided within 48–72 hours.
• Israel released documents alleging links between some flotilla organizers and Hamas, claims the campaign rejects as it insists the mission was civilian and humanitarian.
• Legal analysts and organizers contest the interception under the San Remo Manual’s rules on blockades and humanitarian access, framing the episode as a test of international law, while Italy provides consular support with at least 30 nationals reported detained.