The largest civilian flotilla in the history of support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank was intercepted at 10:30 a.m. (Turkiye time) on Monday, May 18, 2026, 250 nautical miles from Gaza.
Multiple large Israeli warships disgorged a large number of Zodiac boats filled with combat-laden Israeli offensive forces.
Some 45 minutes into the interception, the Israeli military combat personnel forcibly boarded many of the 57 ships in the flotilla organized by Global Sumud Flotilla, Freedom Flotilla Coalition, and Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association.
Participants from the flotilla were subsequently put on a large cargo ship called the “prison ship” and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
Flotilla members were subsequently taunted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and subjected to physical abuse, causing at least 67 to go to the hospital. At least 15 activists also alleged sexual assault, including rape, which the Israeli prison service denied.
The Trump administration responded not by condemning the Israeli actions but by imposing sanctions on four activists involved with the flotilla mission, whose aim is to bring aid to the beleaguered Gaza population and to help raise international awareness about their plight.
Below is a diary I wrote of the events last week:
May 19:
Ten boats, including the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s boat “Lina” are still sailing toward Gaza in the largest civilian flotilla in the history of support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank attempting to break the illegal Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.. You can watch their progress on tracker: https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-gsf-tracker/
Nine U.S. citizens are on the ten boats still under way to Gaza!! More than 400 unarmed civilian participants from 45 countries have been kidnapped in international waters by Israeli military forces.
Their boats have been purposely damaged by the Israeli military and left adrift as a hazard to international shipping and as another violation of international law by the Israeli government.
The 54-boat flotilla, which included boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition and many other organizations from Turkiye, Malaysia and Indonesia was intercepted yesterday, Monday, May 18, 2026, beginning at 10:30 a.m. (Turkiye time).
The cargo “prison” ship on which captains, crew and participants were incarcerated after interception has slowly moved toward the Ashdod port in Israel where, historically, flotilla participants have been processed by the Israeli government. Israeli Foreign Ministry video of some participants greeting each other on the cargo ship: https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-gsf-tracker/
After extensive processing procedures, flotilla participants are sent to a prison for detention for several days before deportation proceedings begin.
For the past few flotillas, twice in 2025 and in Crete, Greece, in 2026, the Turkish government has kindly sent a Turkish airliner to retrieve some of the participants and bring them to the Istanbul International Airport for further flights home.
Other participants were taken by Israeli transport to the border crossing to Jordan and turned over to the embassies of the participants.
In the case of U.S. citizens, the U.S. government generally does not meet, or provide any assistance to, U.S. citizens, as required by U.S. law.
We anticipate the prison ship will dock at Ashdod port today and processing will begin with participants waiting in the sun in uncomfortable positions, such as having to kneel on concrete.
In a true test of their non-violence training, they may have to be close to and listen to various Israeli government ministers berate them for challenging Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, destruction of southern Lebanon and massive attacks on Iran.
May 20
By 8pm local time on May 19, 2026, the last ten boats of the 2026 Gaza flotilla had been illegally seized by the Israeli military in international water approximately 118 nautical miles from Gaza.
“Lina” was the last flotilla vessel seized in international waters
The last boat to be seized of the 54 boat flotilla was the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC)’s boat named “Lina.” The flotilla boats had been sailing toward Gaza in the largest civilian flotilla in the history of support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank attempting to break the illegal Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
The “Lina” has a remarkable history. She was launched from Marseilles, France with twenty boats of the Thousand Madleens and came to Centraro, Italy. From Cetraro, she and another Thousand Madleens boat Tenaz, joined the FFC boats Adalah and Perservance in Siracusa, Sicily.
They were joined by the Kiriakou X near Crete and the five sailed together for several days in the Greek islands and then meeting the Global Sumud flotilla off Marmaris Bay in Turkiye on May 14.
The history of the 2026 Gaza flotilla can be seen on the FFC/GSF tracker: https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-gsf-tracker/
470 Unarmed Civilian Participants Kidnapped by Israeli Military Forces
Over the past two days, approximately 470 unarmed civilian participants from 45 countries have been kidnapped in international waters by Israeli military forces, placed in a cargo “prison ship” and ultimately taken against their wills to Israel, put in Israeli prison for several days and ultimately deported.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition five boats had 37 participants from 13 countries.
22 Vessels Attacked and 179 Gaza Flotilla Participants Taken by Israeli Military Forces Off Crete, Greece on April 30, 2026
On April 30, 2026, only two days after the Global Sumud Flotilla left the port of Augusta, Sicily, Italy, Israeli military forces attack the GSF fleet, damaged and disabled 22 flotilla vessels and abducted 179 people at gunpoint in international waters off the Greek island of Crete.
The remainder of the Global Sumud Glotilla fleet regrouped off Crete and later joined 17 vessels from Turkiye in Marmaris, Turkiye. That group was then joined by five vessels from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition on May 14, 2026.
The large flotilla then headed to Gaza when it was again attacked by Israeli forces on May 18 and 19, 2026.
Israelis Fired Shots and Flotilla Boats Purposely Damaged and Set Adrift in Violation of International Law
Israeli military forces fired on at least two flotilla vessels during their attacks on the Gaza flotilla. It is still unknown if any participants were injured as Israeli officials deny the shots despite video footage.
Flotilla boats have been purposely damaged by the Israeli military. On May 19, the Sirus boat, the second to the last boat to be illegally seized by the IOF, was purposely rammed by an Israeli naval ship. We do not know the extent of damage to the boat or to participants on the boat as the camera on the boat was broken by the ramming.
Prior to the ramming, participants on the ship were hosed by the ship’s water cannon. We do not know whether the liquid poured on the participants was the notoriously noxious “skunk” water, which has previously been used on Gaza fishers and on other international activists.
All of the 54 boats of the Gaza flotilla have been left adrift in international waters and are hazards to international shipping, another violation of international law by the Israeli military and government.
Interception of the 54 boat flotilla, which included boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition and many other organizations from Turkiye, Malaysia and Indonesia began on Monday, May 18, 2026 at 10:30am Turkiye time and ended with the attack on the Lina approximately 46 hours later at 8:00pm on May 19. 2026.
Cargo “Prison ship” arrives in Ashdod Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in the early morning
The cargo “prison” ship on which Captains, crew and participants were incarcerated after interception stayed in the area until the last flotilla boat was seized and participants loaded on board. The prison ship arrived in Ashdod port, Israel about 5am Palestine time. Flotilla participants were then processed by the Israeli government in Ashdod.
Here is an Israeli Foreign Ministry video of some participants greeting each other on the cargo ship: https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-gsf-tracker/
After extensive processing procedures, participants waited in the sun in uncomfortable positions, such as having to kneel on concrete for hours and attempted humiliation by guards. This, however, is nothing in comparison to what happens to Palestinians. Flotilla participants will be sent to the notorious Ktzi’ot prison for detention for several days before deportation proceedings begin.
Report on Ktzi’ot prison: “Welcome To Hell: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps”
2025 GSF and Conscience flotilla participants were also sent to the Ktzi’ot prison which has held thousands of Palestinians under terrible conditions over the decades. In August 2024, B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights NGO, released a report “Welcome To Hell: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps” (PDF). B’Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. August 2024, detailing testimonies of 55 Palestinians held in Israeli custody since October 7, 2023, including 12 Palestinians held in the Ktzi’ot prison. This report described a lack of food and water, severe beating, and sexual abuse.
Upon Deportation, Flotilla Participants Have Been Sent to Istanbul, Amman, Jordan and Athens, Greece.
For the past few flotillas, twice in 2025 and in Crete, Greece in 2026, the Turkish government has kindly sent a Turkish airliner to retrieve some of the participants and bring them to the Istanbul International airport for onward flights home.
Other participants have been taken by Israeli transport to the border crossing to Jordan and turned over to the embassies of the participants.
Also in 2025, some GSF participants were flown to Athens, Greece.
Embassy officials Should Meet with Their National Citizens: Many Do, But NOT the U.S. Embassy generally
Government officials assigned to their respective Embassies in Israel, should visit their national citizens during their imprisonment and assist in their departure from Israel.
However, due to U.S. government policies that support the criminal actions of the State of Israel, including the complicity in the genocide of Palestinians by the providing of bombs and other lethal weapons to Israel, in the case of U.S. citizens, the U.S. Embassy in Israel and the U.S. State Department, generally do not meet, nor provide any assistance to U.S. citizens who challenge U.S. policies through the nonviolent actions such as the Gaza flotilla.
U.S. Government at the Direction of the State of Israel Wrongfully Calls Gaza Flotillas as Supporting Hamas and Puts Sanctions On Four Persons for Membership in PCPA and Samidoun for Solidarity with Palestine Prisoners
This year, the U.S. Department of State, no doubt at the direction of the Trump administration’s genocidal best-friend the State of Israel, wrote a particularly mean-spirited notice to Gaza flotilla participants who are U.S. citizens of conscience who challenge U.S. government complicity in the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
The U.S. government followed on May 19, 2026, with another Trump administration/Israeli government attempt at destroying support for Palestinians, by directing the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to take “action against four individuals associated with the pro-Hamas flotilla organized by the U.S.-designated Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) that is attempting to access Gaza in support of Hamas.”..
The U.S. Treasury Department wrote at the direction of Trump’s ally the State of Israel: “The sanctioned individuals are Saif Abu Keshek, a Palestinian with Spanish and Swedish citizenship and PCPA leader who helped organize and lead Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) missions; Jordan-based PCPA president Hisham Abdallah Sulayman Abu Mahfuz; Mohammed Khatib, who is based in Belgium and is the European coordinator for Samidoun, the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network; and Jaldia Abubakra Aueda, Samidoun’s coordinator in Madrid.”
Foreign Ministers of Ten Countries Condemn Israeli Attacks on the Gaza Flotilla
On Monday, May 18, 2026, the Foreign Ministers of Turkiye, Spain, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, Libya, and the Maldives released a joint statement, describing Israeli forces’ actions as “blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law.”
In the statement, the Foreign Ministers expressed “serious concern regarding the safety and security of the civilian participants of the flotilla” and called for the “immediate release of all detained activists, as well as for full respect for their rights and dignity”
Training to Help Endure Both Physical and Mental Abuse by Israeli Military, Prison and Other Government Officials
In a true test of their nonviolence training to endure both physical and mental abuse, participants may have to be close to and listen to various Israeli government ministers berate them for challenging Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, destruction of southern Lebanon and massive attacks on Iran.
The Catastrophic Medical Toll:
New data reveals the alarming level of trauma inflicted on civilian human rights defenders and journalists during their detention.
While hundreds were received by the local Turkish forensic team for an initial medical check for injuries sustained at the hands of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), at least 67 people suffered injuries so severe requiring further medical evaluation in the state hospital, and 12 participants were hospitalized: 9 in Turkey and 3 in Greece.
- Arno Meys, a flotilla captain, is currently healing from a punctured lung. Due to strict medical recommendations regarding his injuries, he is completely unable to fly for the next month.
As of this writing, two participants remain hospitalized. One is being held under observation for a broken foot that continues to bleed, caused by being fired upon at point-blank range, by what is believed to be a beanbag round. A second participant remains hospitalized under continuous monitoring for concerns regarding internal bleeding and cardiac arrhythmia alongside a broken leg.
These severe cases corroborate earlier reports that documented at least 36 distinct bone fractures, broken ribs, and severe torso injuries across the fleet. Medics reported treating volunteers who were struggling to breathe due to the sheer agony of their shattered ribs, while others suffered severe head injuries and loss of consciousness.
Terror Inside the Shipping Containers: As survivors begin speaking to the press upon arrival in their home nations, a shared experience of calculated barbarism—and profound solidarity—is emerging:
The French Delegation: In a chilling personal testimony, French delegate Meriem Hadjal described being dragged toward a dark shipping container by soldiers multiple times her size. “I take the first blow. Slaps that knock you out… Everything happens at the level of the head.” Terrified of being raped, she resisted as a soldier repeatedly touched her, while a second soldier pulled at her chest and pants. Inside the container, she witnessed a third soldier torturing another volunteer on the ground with a taser. Another soldier grabbed her by the hair, beating her head while demanding she show her face. When the container door briefly opened, she recounted, “what I mainly see on the ground, because I don’t look up, are bloodstains.” Meriem noted she, along with other detainees, were stripped naked, removing any warm clothes and crammed into splintered containers where they could hear their “comrades, one by one, screaming, because they were being beaten to a pulp.”
The Polish Delegation: Karim Awad, a medic holding dual Polish and UK citizenship, recounted being choked with a torn Palestinian flag by an iOF soldier. Awad was subsequently subjected to continuous stompings to the head by six soldiers. Because he had written “Free Palestine” on his body, he was singled out for multiple strip searches, severe beatings with a hand-held metal detector, and having his hair ripped out. He further revealed that the iOF systematically flooded the floors of the dark shipping containers with cold water every few hours to prevent detainees from sleeping.
The Greek Delegation: Delegates recounted the boarding of the Kiriakos X, where soldiers used electric shocks and brutal beatings on the crew to force them to identify their captain. To halt the torture of her crew, the female captain courageously stepped forward to claim responsibility for the boat and volunteers; the iOF responded by shooting her directly in the leg with a rubber bullet. She was wounded and denied proper medical care for days.
The South African Delegation: Two South African delegates, Ebrahim Peters and Qutb Hendricks, provided powerful testimony detailing how iOF soldiers explicitly used geopolitical retaliation as a pretext for torture. Upon discovering the participants’ nationality, soldiers dragged them into an isolated room and launched a targeted physical assault. While beating the volunteers, soldiers explicitly referenced international accountability mechanisms, stating, “You guys want to take us to court? We’ll show you,” referencing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Belgian & Australian Delegations: 77-year-old Belgian delegate Olimpia Dìez Perlines expressed total shock at the sadism of the forces. Julien Cabral, another Belgian participant noted that soldiers could be heard explicitly saying, “let’s have fun,” as they initiated the violent attacks. And Australian delegate Juliet Lamont provided further harrowing details, confirming she was sexually assaulted “in this kind of torture chamber as five men were bashing me and smashing my face.” According to Lamont: activists were targeted in a “relentless” and “planned campaign of violence” that she believes is intended to ensure activists do not return. “You know they’ve broken our bones, but not our soul.”
The Canadian Delegation: Ehab Lotayef, sailing aboard the Canadian Boat to Gaza, was directly asked by iOF personnel to assist them with translation, only to be stabbed in the hand by soldiers the moment he attempted to provide that help. Lotayef said he and other detainees were subjected to physical and psychological torture as they were made to watch videos of militant group Hamas and were struck on the head as soldiers repeatedly asked “Is this terrorism or not?” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement acknowledging that Israel’s treatment of flotilla members was “abominable and unacceptable.”
The Brazilian Delegation: A delegate returning to Brazil, Ariadne Telles, detailed suffering physical and psychological torture. The delegate was subjected to severe sleep deprivation and targeted physical assaults: “They kicked me on the face, they kicked me on the legs, they zip-tied my hands; I don’t feel my fingers until now.” Detainees were forced to sit on their knees with their heads pressed to the floor for hours, while captors laughed.
Indestructible Solidarity
In the face of this “global machinery of repression,” the overarching theme of the survivors’ return is the indestructible nature of a commitment to collective liberation and solidarity with the Palestinian people. Survivors describe participants throwing their own bodies over comrades to absorb baton strikes, and bound detainees in stress positions desperately massaging the legs of the comrades next to them to keep them from collapsing from pain.
The Global Sumud Flotilla reiterates its urgent demands for an immediate, independent international investigation into these documented war crimes, the immediate implementation of comprehensive arms embargoes, and sanctions against the israeli regime for its systemic violations of international maritime and humanitarian law, the illegal blockade of Gaza and the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.
- Reporting from the Flotilla Crisis Center in Istanbul, Turkiye, Ann Wright
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About the Author
Ann Wright is a retired United States Army colonel and retired U.S. State Department official.
She was one of three State Department officials to publicly resign in direct protest of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.
Since that time Colonel Wright has been a dedicated peace activist.
Ann can be reached at annw1946@gmail.com.
