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Israel has announced that its naval forces managed to halt a humanitarian flotilla attempting to reach the Gaza Strip shoreline.

However, reports indicate that one vessel, named the ship Mikeno, slipped past the naval blockade and stopped within Palestinian territorial waters before communication with the ship was cut off.

This represents the first time since the imposition of a sea blockade on Gaza's waters in 2009 that an unauthorised humanitarian mission has gotten closer than 70 nautical miles of the coastline.

Official Statement

The Israel's foreign ministry stated that a remaining vessel of the provocation remains in the distance.”

“Should it come closer,” they continued, “its attempt to enter an war zone and violate the blockade will likewise be stopped.”

Interception Details

Boats from the humanitarian convoy, which consisted of more than 40 non-military ships carrying about 500 lawmakers, lawyers, and campaigners, were boarded on Wednesday evening by Israeli forces approximately 75 miles from the shore of Gaza.

Recorded video released by the Israeli foreign ministry showed participants sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers on the main ship, the Alma.

In a video message shared on social media just prior to the boarding, one participant stated: “We are about to be intercepted by Israel.”

Those on board were arrested and taken into custody to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The Israeli foreign ministry said it would expel all individuals on the convoy.

Onboard Accounts

The flotilla shared several videos on social media with messages from individuals on board the various boats, some holding their identification and claiming they had been abducted and brought to Israel against their will, reiterating that their mission was a non-violent aid effort.

The boats were navigating in open sea north of Egypt on Wednesday when the boardings began and had entered what has been called a “danger area.”

Although in international waters, it is an region where the Israeli navy has stopped other vessels trying to violate its blockade in the past and which the flotilla had been warned not to cross.

Boarding Sequence

Around 7:25 pm, approximately 20 navy vessels approached the flotilla and ordered them to shut down their engines, activists said on online platforms.

Live footage from the flotilla showed passengers seated in a circle, wearing life vests as they expected interception. The stream cut off shortly afterwards.

“The ships are being stopped unlawfully,” a message on the mission’s social media page stated on Wednesday evening. “Recording devices are not working and boats have been boarded by soldiers. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all participants onboard.”

Footage broadcast by news channels depicted activists on the ship being hit by high-pressure streams of water. Those onboard said they also heard noises near several of the boats, believed to be distraction devices dropped from unmanned aircraft.

International Reactions

Those arrested include nine nationals, including a senator, at least two lawmakers, and a French MEP.

Demonstrations broke out in Italy in response to the raid. Rallies were likewise seen in multiple locations including Brussels, Athens, Buenos Aires, and Berlin, while the Spanish government urged Israel to ensure the security and freedoms of activists.

Spain’s labour minister described the interception of the aid mission as “an unlawful act against international law” and demanded that Israel free those it had detained.

Writing on an online platform, they stated: “The EU needs to end relations with Israel immediately.”

Spain’s foreign ministry issued a declaration late on Wednesday night, noting that the mission was a “a peaceful and aid public effort” and calling for the “safety and rights” of the Spanish citizens on board to be upheld.

The statement concluded: “Spain will continue to demand an end to the war in Gaza, the massive entry of humanitarian aid, the release of all captives, and the establishment of the two-state solution: Palestinian state and Israel, living side by side in calm and security.”

The UK authorities was “deeply worried” about Israel’s interception of an international aid flotilla bound for Gaza, the Foreign Office stated on the next day, noting that it had communicated to Israel that the situation should be resolved without harm.

“We are very concerned about the situation with the aid convoy, we are in touch with the relatives of a group of UK citizens involved,” the British Foreign Office commented in a statement. “The humanitarian supplies on the ships should be handed to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered securely into Gaza.”

The Turkish ministry stated the Israeli “attack” on the convoy was “a terrorist act” that endangered the safety of innocent civilians.

Context on the Naval Siege

The naval blockade was imposed in 2009 by Israel, an escalation of its 2007 blockade of Gaza in response to Hamas taking over of the area. It has been criticized on multiple times by the United Nations, which has called it “a violation of global rights and aid law”.

An expert on global law at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said that as long as Israel’s blockade of Gaza was “militarily justified” – intended to keep out arms – and a ship intended to violate the siege, Israel could intercept the ship after giving notice.

Whether the blockade is legally sound, and its lawfulness, are points of contention.

The mission argues it is a non-military, unarmed group and that the delivery of assistance is protected in international law. Previous attempts by activists to violate the sea blockade on Gaza were stopped by force by the Israeli military.

In 2010, ten Turkish activists were fatally wounded by Israeli commandos who boarded a ship as it led an aid flotilla heading to Gaza.