Israel raid of Gaza-bound flotilla near Cyprus sparks outrage

Israel raid of Gaza-bound flotilla near Cyprus sparks outrage Submitted by Mera Aladam on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 11:24 The seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla is the latest in a string of raids that occurred in international waters People hold a pro-Palestine protest in Ankara, Turkey, ahead of the Global Sumud Flotilla's latest mission to break the Israeli siege on Gaza, 17 May 2026 (Efekan Akyuz/Reuters) Off The Gaza -bound Global Sumud Flotilla reported Israeli naval forces raiding several of its vessels near Cyprus, in the latest attack on the aid mission in international waters. In a statement sent to Middle East Eye, the mission said it is "currently surrounded and under active interception by Israeli naval warships in international waters," approximately 250 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip's coast.  It added that the "military encirclement marks the commencement of another illegal, high-seas aggression". Footage released show Israeli forces circling and seizing a number of boats reportedly off the coast of Cyprus. The organisers asserted that Israel "continues to demonstrate a systematic disregard for international maritime law, freedom of navigation on the high seas, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)". The Global Sumud Flotilla also posted on X that Israeli soldiers were "boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight". The seizure of vessels come four days after 54 vessels originally set off from Marmaris, Turkey, in an attempt at breaking Israel's blockade on the Gaza.  Israeli media earlier reported that the military was preparing to intercept the flotilla, which was expected to reach Gaza’s water...

Original source: Middle East Eye