Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu interrupted his court testimony session yesterday to follow developments regarding the movement of Israeli forces to take control of a flotilla of boats heading toward Gaza, according to what was reported by the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

The newspaper quoted a source as saying that the decision to seize control of the flotilla from a distance and in international waters was due to its large size.

In contrast, Israeli Army Radio reported that 21 ships out of 58 participating in the flotilla were intercepted, noting that operations against the remaining ships would resume if they did not turn back.

The L’Estaque area, which is part of the port of Marseille, in southern France. (AFP)

On its part, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the attack carried out by Israeli forces on the “Global Sumud Flotilla” constitutes an act of piracy, calling on the international community to take a unified stance regarding what it described as an illegal act.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that the Israeli Navy had intercepted around 175 activists from the Gaza aid flotilla, which had set off in April from European coasts, adding that they are now on their way to Israel.

The ministry wrote on the platform X: “Around 175 activists aboard more than 20 ships are currently heading to Israel in a peaceful manner,” attaching a video clip showing, according to its description, “the activists enjoying themselves on board Israeli ships.”

The organizers of the flotilla, which set out earlier this month in a renewed attempt to break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip and deliver aid to it, said on Thursday that the Israeli navy had surrounded their boats in international waters and that communication with some of them had been cut off.

In a statement issued overnight, the flotilla said: “Israeli military vessels have illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and issued threats of abduction and the use of violence.”

Seizure of the “Sumud Flotilla” (X).

He added: “Communication was cut off with 11 ships.”

The flotilla includes more than 50 ships that sailed in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain, and Syracuse in Italy. It is currently located west of the Greek island of Crete, according to live tracking data on the organization’s website.

The organization said on X: “Military boats intercepted our ships and identified themselves as belonging to Israel,” adding that the individuals on board “pointed laser beams and semi-automatic assault weapons” and “ordered the activists to gather at the front of the ships and sit on all fours.”